Five things to consider when selecting a nursing home for yourself or your parents are:

1) Location. Not only is quality of life better when family visits, but so is quality of care. If the facility knows that someone is paying attention, they may make an extra effort to provide superior care. Visits are also the high point in our lives. Make it easy for family and friends to drop by in person.

2) Care quality. Like our homes, nursing homes are all built differently. While it is important to feel at home, do not let all the different bells and whistles drive your decision. What really matters is the quality of care the home provides. Observe how the staff interacts with other residents, and with each other. Also be sure to have a meal with the residents. Not only will you brighten someone’s day, but you will have the opportunity to check out the food. Let’s face it, good food matters.

3) The caregivers themselves. Visit with people actually responsible for care, not just marketing. Talk with staff members and administrators in different areas. Find out what they do and how they serve their residents. Ask them how they handle concerns from family members and difficult health situations.

4) References. If you don’t know anyone with a loved one in a nursing, ask for referrals. Also, seek advice from care professionals in your community. You want to learn about the quality of care and how staff responds to concerns that families raise.

5) Rankings. Visit medicare.gov/NHCompare/home.asp to view the certifications and performance comparisons among nursing homes you are considering. The ratings are based on quality measures, nurse staffing levels and health inspection reports. The comparison charts also guide you to asking the right questions on your tour.

Plan ahead
Visit with your qualified estate planning and elder law attorney long before applying for Medicaid or entering the nursing home. Too often, people wait too long and end up losing some of their land or other assets to the nursing home. With the right planning, you can prevent this from happening and ensure your farm is able to stay in your family for generations to come.

Harris is the head of the Estate Planning & Probate Practice Group and the Business & Corporate Law Practice Group at Swier Law Firm, which has five locations in South Dakota. Contact her at 605-275-5669 or at [email protected]. Visit swierlaw.com.