Choosing a Home

Deciding that you or a loved one may need to move to a nursing home is one of the most difficult and trying moments a family can go through. But circumstances often arise that make an assisted living facility's resources invaluable.

A classic way to measure if you or a loved one would benefit from those services is to ask if you need help with the so-called Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). These activities include getting out of bed, eating, bathing, dressing and using the bathroom. Do you need 24-hour medical care or supervision? Some people say that if you need help with three or more of these, a nursing home may be right for you.

But how do you find a home that is right for you? How do you avoid the poorly run nursing homes that so many fear? Click here to see a survey about impressions of nursing homes.

There are several steps you can take and resources you can use to find out more about nursing homes in your area.

Speak with your local long-term care ombudsman who is an advocate for nursing home residents. To find your local or state representative, and find other resources for the aging, or call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

The Department of Health and Human Services is starting a program that will hopefully provide a good way to compare the quality of nursing homes. If you live in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Rhode Island or Washington, you can already use the pilot program's database set up on http://www.medicare.gov to access the Nursing Home Quality Initiative.

When you have created a list of possible homes, try to visit them several times. Go at different times of the day and eat a meal there. Talk to residents and staff. You can use a checklist created by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to help remember important questions like is the home and the current administrator licensed? Or does the home conduct background checks on all staff?

Be aware that Medicare does not pay for long-term nursing home stays, but it will cover short-term care after three days in a hospital. Medicaid will cover long stays for eligible individuals. About 70 percent of all nursing home residents receive Medicaid assistance.

Other resources include state by state information at the National Citizens Coalition on Nursing Home Reform and the Center for Medicare Advocacy.