samedi 25 janvier 2014

Selecting A Skilled Nursing Facility

By Kristana Jenson


Nursing homes go by many names, and they are known as skilled nursing facilities, rest homes, elder care homes and even rehabilitation centers. Most nursing homes provide both long-term and short-time care for a variety of people, both young and old. There are many reasons why people reside in nursing homes and if you need to select a nursing home for a loved one, here is some important information.

Sometimes a person only needs to stay at a nursing home for a few days, weeks or months. There are many reasons why this might be the case. An accident can leave a person with a variety of injuries that make it impossible for them to care for themselves, and also they will have needs beyond what a spouse, friend or relative might be able to provide. After a stroke, many patients are transferred to nursing homes before going back to their own homes. Whether it's and accident or stroke, a nursing home not only provides medical care but also rehabilitation services, which can be quite important. It's very convenient to have a variety of professionals on hand to provide physical therapy or speech therapy or other types of rehabilitation.

Many times, however, long-term care is what people are seeking out when they look for a nursing home. Sometimes a person is suffering from a fatal disease, such as cancer or AIDS or emphysema and needs a great deal of medical care. Other people might have severe dementia or Alzheimer's and need both daily care as well as some level of security. While we might want to care for our loved one at home, this simply is not an option for many people. After all, we lack nursing and medical training and may not even have any type of space in our home that will work for even in-home hospice care.

In addition, nursing homes are affordable places for seniors who can no longer live alone. Sometimes these seniors are in relatively good physical condition, but unable to handle daily tasks such as grooming or remembering to take medications or provide proper nutrition for themselves. Assisted living homes are quite expensive and do not take Medicare or Medicaid benefits as payment while nursing homes do, so they can be a solution for a senior who needs care but is on a strict, fixed income. The employees will help with all daily chores, as well as providing housekeeping, laundry services and all meals. This can provide much peace of mind to family members who might live far away or might be unable to provide daily care.

Before selecting a nursing home, you will need to compile a list of several and do some thorough research. You can begin by using an eldercare placement website such as CarePlacement.com, as well as asking friends, family and perhaps nurses and doctors for recommendations. Create a list of questions to ask the staff at each facility and write down the answers you get as well as making notes of your general impressions. Check to see if the facility looks clean and that the staff is not only friendly to you on this initial visit but also that there is a good rapport between staff and the residents. If possible, locate a facility that is close enough for many friends and family members to visit.

Nursing home facilities have long had a negative stigma and often can seem a bit institutional in nature, but that is slowly changing as skilled nursing facilities are doing more to improve the ambiance and amenities. Shop around for a facility that offers some good social activities for your loved one and find a place where the residents seem happy. The best scenario is to find a place where a friend is already living as this can lower anxiety tremendously for your loved one and also can give you greater insight into the way the home is operated.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire