My husband's aorta split in the fall. It's winter now and he has been in the hospital for almost three months. He had two non-invasive surgeries, one major surgery, and four follow-up wound procedures. Now that his major wound is healing, according to federal regulations, he must be dismissed from the hospital. But he faces a huge barrier.
During life-saving surgery my husband had a spinal stroke and his legs don't work. Even with intense physical therapy, his legs will probably never work, and he can't return to our home because of all the stairs. Unless I can come up with a solution, my husband will be transferred to a nursing home. I decided to do a little detective work and it was an eye-opener. You may be in a similar situation. These criteria will help you choose the best place for your loved one.
Learn about your state's definitions and regulations. You may do this by entering the name of your state, followed by such words as statutes, definitions, licensure, fees, and inspection. If you're willing to use lots of ink and paper, print out this information for future use.
What rating does the nursing home receive from the state? My state, Minnesota, has categories of standards, including the minimum nursing staff, developing care plans, and quality of care. Four stars are the standard, yet many nursing homes in my area fail to meet it.
Meet with a social worker. The hospital my husband is in has social workers for each department. Two social workers contacted me immediately. I met with one of them and she was helpful and knowledgable about current regulations. A savvy social worker can save you time and angst.
Visit the facilities. Chances are you can't visit all the homes in your area, so limit your visits to the top possibilities. I didn't call ahead and make an appointment. Instead, I dropped in for a surprise visit and tour. Turns out, the colorful brochure about the home was far better than the reality.
Ask about extra fees. For example, a private room costs extra and these costs are probably not covered by your loved one's insurance plan(s). You may have to pay extra to rent a wheelchair. for certain prescription meds, or for recreation therapy. Keep careful track of these costs.
Pick up brochures and other written information. Create a manilla file for each nursing home. Store these files in a handy place. After I visited the nursing home that had the wonderful brochure and a lesser reality, I jotted down notes about my visit on the brochure. "I'm not going there," my husband declared.
If you can, talk with families who have a loved one at the nursing home. What are the nursing home's pluses? What are the minuses? How does their loved one feel about the quality of care he or she is receiving? This is one of the most important decisions of your life. Make sure the nursing home meets personal and state standards before you enroll your loved one.
Copyright 2014 by Harriet Hodgson
Harriet Hodgson has been a freelance writer for 36+ years and is the author of 33 published books. Her latest releases are "Help! I'm Raising My Grandkids" and "Happy Again! Your New and Meaningful Life After Loss." Visit her website and learn more about this busy author.
By Harriet Hodgson
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