STEPS TO A NEW HOME

STEPS TO A NEW HOME

Frank E. Fain, PhD

Third article in the series -“Helping an Elder loved one find a good care facility”

One to the most important tasks in the process of selecting a good elder care facility is the visitation and inspection phase. Once you and your loved one have compiled a list of potential new homes, it is time to do your on-site research of them.

Begin this research by dropping by each facility as a visitor during regular visiting hours. On this visit do not be blinded by fancy interior decorations, lush gardens, and other “curb appeal” features. While on this visit concentrate on the residents and their care, because that is what really matters in the long run.

On this initial visit observe the following:

How are the residents dressed? Is their attire appropriate for the season and temperature? Are they well groomed? Is their clothing clean or is it wet and soiled? Are they involved in activities or seemed bored? Does is appear they have independence in choosing activities and movement through out the facility?

How does the staff appear? Are they pleasant and helpful or do they look overworked and on edge? Does the staff treat the residents equally with respect, kindness and affection? Do they seem to really like being around the elderly?

Does the facility appear to be cleaned and well maintained? How does the facility smell? Are there lingering odors of urine or feces? Do you detect the heavy use of deodorant sprays to cover up or mask odors? Is the floor well kept and free of litter? Are there handrails along the walls? The level of cleanliness and regular maintenance is an indicator of the organizations commitment to quality resident care.

After these initial visits you and your loved one will be able to narrow list of potential homes down to just a few that you really like. The next step is the “formal inspection phase”.

The first part of this phase can be done through a phone conversation with the facility administrator.

In this phone conversation make sure to discover the following information:

Is the facility licensed for the level of care your loved one needs now and will perhaps need in the future? Specifically is the facility licensed for personal care, intermediate care and/or skilled care?

Who owns and manages the facility? Is it part of a national or regional chain or locally owned? Is it a not-for-profit or for-profit? Is it supported or affiliated with a religious organization?

Are Medicaid and Medicare residents accepted or, is the facility restricted to private-pay residents? What happens to private-pay residents when their funds run out? (Note some facilities are like The Baptist Home a private pay/benevolent organization. When a resident’s funds are exhausted The Home absorbs their resident care costs without dependency on government funding such as Medicaid)

What are the basic costs and what do they include? Are there additional charges for special diets, equipment, transportation, laundry, hair care, physical therapy? Is there an entry fee?

How soon could the facility accept your loved one? What is their acceptance process?

After these phone interviews the list of potential homes should be narrowed enough that you and your loved one can moved to the final phase of the selection process, which will be the topic of next months column.

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	How are the residents dressed? Is their attire appropriate for the season and temperature? Are they well groomed? Is their clothing clean or is it wet and soiled? Are they involved in activities or seemed bored? Does is appear they have independence in choosing activities and movement through out the facility?
	How does the staff appear? Are they pleasant and helpful or do they look overworked and on edge? Does the staff treat the residents equally with respect, kindness and affection? Do they seem to really like being around the elderly?
	Does the facility appear to be cleaned and well maintained? How does the facility smell? Are there lingering odors of urine or feces? Do you detect the heavy use of deodorant sprays to cover up or mask odors? Is the floor well kept and free of litter? Are there handrails along the walls? The level of cleanliness and regular maintenance is an indicator of the organizations commitment to quality resident care.

	In this phone conversation make sure to discover the following information:
	Is the facility licensed for the level of care your loved one needs now and will perhaps need in the future? Specifically is the facility licensed for personal care, intermediate care and/or skilled care?
	Who owns and manages the facility? Is it part of a national or regional chain or locally owned? Is it a not-for-profit or for-profit? Is it supported or affiliated with a religious organization?
	Are Medicaid and Medicare residents accepted or, is the facility restricted to private-pay residents? What happens to private-pay residents when their funds run out? (Note some facilities are like The Baptist Home a private pay/benevolent organization. When a resident’s funds are exhausted The Home absorbs their resident care costs without dependency on government funding such as Medicaid)
	What are the basic costs and what do they include? Are there additional charges for special diets, equipment, transportation, laundry, hair care, physical therapy? Is there an entry fee?
	How soon could the facility accept your loved one? What is their acceptance process?