| Before you tour your facility choices be sure you | | | | respected? Is it busy with activity or is no one |
| have done your homework. Go online and visit | | | | there? Listen to find out if they have at least a |
| Medicare.gov. They have wonderful resources | | | | full-time physical therapist and occupational |
| available to you for free. They are user friendly. | | | | therapist, it is important to know, as your loved |
| Please see the end of this article for details. | | | | one may require these services from time to |
| To narrow down your choice between two or | | | | time. Do they mention at least a part time |
| three nursing homes or just considering the only | | | | speech-language pathologist? It is always good to |
| available nursing home to place your family | | | | have one available to screen your loved one if |
| member or friend, it takes two visits. Take | | | | they ever begin to have speech problems or |
| someone with you and if at all possible take the | | | | eating problems like swallowing. |
| person who will be moving into the nursing home. | | | | Once at the Activities Department, observe what |
| Your first visit to the nursing home is what I call | | | | is going on each time you pass by. Make it a point |
| "THEIR PITCH". Set it up for the morning anytime | | | | to stop for a few minutes and observe residents |
| before 11:00 AM on a Saturday and plan to be | | | | and don't be surprised if not every resident in the |
| there at least an hour. Get there 15 to 20 | | | | activities room, is not doing something. Are at |
| minutes early with a magazine or a newspaper | | | | least 25% of the residents doing something like |
| and let the receptionist know you are there. Take | | | | reading, watching TV, or doing the activity that is |
| a seat in the lobby and wait. This is not waisted | | | | going on at the time? Ask to see or have a copy |
| time. Open up your newspaper or magazine and | | | | of the activities calendar. Observe interactions. |
| eaves drop without calling attention to yourself. | | | | The dining areas are a very important area to |
| Let your senses lead the way. Have you been | | | | make observations. Check to see if they have |
| offered refreshments? Does the facility smell? | | | | more that one dining room or area? If the nursing |
| Does the interaction of others sound pleasant? | | | | home that you are at has 120 beds and is not |
| When you opened the front door into the nursing | | | | specific to only Alzheimer's/dementia residents, |
| home did you smell urine, bowel movement, | | | | then there is a mix of residents functioning at |
| vomit or body odor? Did it to smell like flowers or | | | | different levels. There are usually three functional |
| antiseptic? Or like bad odors are being covered up | | | | levels of dining: residents that can dine |
| by good odors. Broccoli, cabbage and brussels | | | | independently, residents that require cueing, and |
| sprouts are the only offensive smells that come | | | | residents that need to be fed. Observe for the |
| from the kitchen when they are being prepared. | | | | different types of dinning rooms or areas. If |
| After a short while close up your magazine or | | | | residents are dining observe for a few moments. |
| paper and reseptive to your visual surroundings. If | | | | Are they socializing, smiling, having a difficult time |
| there is someone else sitting there try to start a | | | | with the food? This is important because as your |
| conversation about the nursing home and find out | | | | loved one's functional ability may decline and they |
| what they think. Listen to the tone of their voice, | | | | may need cueing or to be fed from time to time. |
| watch facial expression and body language. By | | | | What is the facilities policy about reidents dining in |
| now the admissions coordinator or someone is | | | | their room? |
| going to invite you into their office or take you | | | | The tour guide (admissions coordinator) will show |
| for a tour and give you "THEIR PITCH". | | | | you a few resident rooms. Most of the time they |
| When they take you into the office they are | | | | will show you the rooms of clean, fairly |
| going to ask you questions. Names, name of | | | | independent, and continent residents with good |
| potential resident, age, diagnosis, who their doctor | | | | family support, a well decorated room, not the |
| is, where are they now, do they have Medicare, | | | | room they would be admitting your loved one |
| insurance, are you the health care power of | | | | into. Facilities are limited to the number of private |
| attorney, do they have a living will, have you | | | | rooms they have. Most of the rooms are semi |
| applied for assistance, how soon do you plan to | | | | private with a private bathroom for the two |
| place them here, etc. They are going to try to | | | | sharing the room or a bathroom that is shared |
| emotional connect with you as well. They are | | | | with the adjoining room. Look in the bathroom if |
| looking for potential problems too. Pleasantly | | | | you can. There is much to consider. |
| answer their questions. If you have a few | | | | During the tour they will hopefully show you |
| questions ask and be sure to ask if you can have | | | | outdoor areas for the residents. Is it shaded from |
| a copy of an information packet or pre-admission | | | | the sun? Is it partially protected from the |
| packet. | | | | weather like rain, snow, and wind? Do they have |
| So on to the tour. The tour is about showing you | | | | an area outdoors for residents who smoke? Are |
| the best of what they have to offer. They will | | | | there seating areas? Is it visually appealing? |
| introduce you to everyone and show you the | | | | This is usually what happens during"THEIR.PITCH". |
| facility. Let "THEIR PITCH" happen and go along | | | | They ask you for information and you ask |
| with it. Don't ask too many questions now | | | | questions and make observations. Just like when |
| because you will distract yourself from | | | | you are with a salesman they want you to get |
| observations that you need in order to make a | | | | emotionally connected with their facility. |
| sound choice. | | | | At the closing be sure to thank them for their |
| During the tour you will be introduced to the | | | | time and let them know that you will be in touch |
| different department managers and shown their | | | | with them soon. |
| offices. You won't be expected to remember | | | | Before your second visit, try and read the |
| names and it is more important how they | | | | information related specifically to the nursing home |
| respond and take an interest in you. Also, during | | | | and what their expectations are of you and the |
| this tour pay attention to the interaction between | | | | resident from the information packet or a |
| staff and residents in every area you are toured | | | | pre-admission packet you recieved. Then make a |
| through. This is important. | | | | list of questions for the next visit. If you can't |
| Observe the residents. Are their clothes clean and | | | | think of any questions, Medicare's publication Guide |
| in good repair? Are they wearing footwear? Do | | | | to Choosing a Nursing Home has questions on |
| the men look clean and shaved? Does their hair | | | | several pages that you can tear out and take |
| look cared for or is it a mess? Do the women | | | | along with you to what I call the "YOUR Q&A |
| have appropriate hairstyles (I have seen them put | | | | VISIT". |
| pigtails on top of balding 90 year olds)? Do they | | | | Try to make "YOUR Q&A VISIT" unexpected on |
| still have bibs on from their last meal? Does any | | | | a weekday. Ask to speak to the admissions |
| one look cold and not have a sweater? Do you | | | | coordinator or some one who can answer some |
| see a number of residents that are wet or smell | | | | questions that came up. I will just tell you now, |
| of urine or BM? Do the hands look clean especially | | | | that if they respond timely to you at this visit |
| under the nails? Do the wheel chairs look clean | | | | that's how you will be responded to if your family |
| and cared for with no sharp edges or tatters? Do | | | | member was in the nursing home. This is your |
| the residents in wheel chairs look comfortable? | | | | opportunity to get your questions answered and |
| Are residents in wheel chairs being pushed too | | | | to get any additional information that will help you |
| fast or backwards? Are residents that are being | | | | make the best choice. |
| walked rushed or are they allowed to walk at | | | | If you live in a small town this nursing home may |
| their own pace? Is a resident yelling out the whole | | | | be your only choice and you will learn to be a |
| time you are there? | | | | good advocate. However, if you live in a large |
| The flooring should be clean and free from any | | | | town or metropolitan area you will have a choice |
| debris. The walls should be clean. The lighting | | | | of several nursing homes, pick the one that suits |
| should be good. Carpets free from spots. | | | | your loved ones needs and not your convenience. |
| Decorative items should look well kept. Drapery | | | | I wish you the best of luck on your search. |
| should be open to allow the natural sunlight in. | | | | Thank you. |
| You will be taken to the nurse's station. The | | | | Here are the valuable Resource Links that I |
| nurses should be pleasant and responsive to the | | | | promised. Just click on the title. |
| residents and family members. Listen to their tone | | | | Nursing Home Compare - Will provide you data |
| and responsiveness in their voice. Watch their | | | | about a nursing homes most recent survey and |
| body language as they acknowledge you or | | | | compare it with other nursing homes you select |
| others at the nursing station. Is this | | | | for free. |
| representative of how you would like your loved | | | | Home Health Compare - Will provide you data |
| one to be responded to? | | | | about home health agencies most recent survey |
| One area you will be taken to, will be the | | | | and compare it to others you select for free. |
| Rehabilitation area where physical, occupational and | | | | Long-Term Care Counselor - Will help you make a |
| speech therapies are provided. How are the | | | | determination of the type care and where the |
| therapists interacting with the residents? Are | | | | care can best be provided for you or for some |
| there residents in the area alone? Is privacy being | | | | that needs help or supervision. |