Choosing a Nursing Home

Think about personal needs

Discuss the idea of nursing home placement with the individual involved and his or her caregivers and primary care provider.
Consider how far visitors will be able to travel.
Consider cost issues and determine if you are eligible for Medicare.
Determine what kind of individualized care will be desired or needed.

Compare

Go to the Nursing home Compare site to see quality "national five star" ratings. This Medicare site

• Allows users to search by location for all 50 states.
• Provides a map with all federally certified nursing homes within the specified geographical area.
• Provides a table of summary quality information for those locations, including: an overall rating, health inspections, staffing report, Medicare participation, number of certified beds and type of ownership.
• Allows for a more detailed comparison of up to three selected nursing homes at a time.

Compare state clinical performance quality "three-diamond" ratings for all Rhode Island facilities. (more) This information supplements the national information with data on patient satisfaction and 19 quality measures including daily living assistance, pain, pressure ulcers, mobility. The top quarter are given , the middle half and the bottom quarter . Clinical outcomes are pulled from the resident assessment (MDS) database. Look at family and patient satisfaction ratings for all Rhode Island nursing homes. (more)

Visit

Schedule a visit with the facility. Ask for a copy of its brochure, admissions policies, and the resident's bill of rights. Prepare a list of talking points. (sample)

Visit the nursing home to:

• Meet the residents and talk with them about their experiences.
• Meet the staff and observe their interactions with the residents.
• Meet the admissions representative or nursing home administrator.
• Talk to the facility's ombudsman from the Department of Elderly Affairs (401-462-3000).

Make your choice

• Narrow your choices and re-visit the facilities under consideration at a different time of day, if possible.
• Contact the admissions staff for advice about the admissions process.
• Meet with the administrator and key staff members to discuss specific concerns you may have about care needs and personal preferences.
• Ask to participate in care planning decisions.
• Be sure to visit often and remain involved in your loved one's ongoing care.