How Spot Good Nursing Homes

By Tracie Knight


For the longest time, nursing homes have waned a bad reputation as a place where old people are place and then later on forgotten. While in some cases this may ring the truth, this is not the true function of Nursing Homes in Maine. Also known as skilled facility, homes provide outstanding care for people who need special care that can not be given to them at home.

Deliberate the matter among other family members first before deciding to place an elderly into a home. First of all it is your responsibility to take care of family members, not of total strangers. One good reason is deteriorating health. If the patient can not do even simple activities such as dressing himself or herself, then it is time to consider a skilled facility.

Most facilities have special care units for people with collapsing memory. If your patient has Alzheimer disease, he or she will be cred for here. People with metal problems such as psychosis or anxiety can also be placed in a home.

Financial reasons also play a role. If the patient needs round the clock medical care, then a home will do quite nicely. You will be assured that your loved one will be well cared for in exchange for a smaller fee than if he were to stay in a hospital for extended periods.

Once you and your family have made the decision of putting your elderly in a home, the next step is to choose a facility that offers the best assistance for your loved one. There are a lot of nursing homes all over the country, each boasting about the services they can offer. The real task is to find which ones are really dedicated.

Look for a home in the most convenient location. Choose one nearby so that family members can visit the patient as often as they like and without difficulty. Nursing homes that are located near a hospital is good, too, especially if your patient needs regular hospital check ups.

Visit the building to see its condition. A good home should not reek of urine nor smell too much of air fresheners. It should have a homey feeling so that the elderly will be able to adjust easily. The best time to visit is during mealtimes, where you will see firsthand what they usually serve their wards, and during the weekend when there are no managers present. This way you will get the real picture, not the advertised one.

Aside from taking to the marketing people, go and chat with staff members and residents. These are the people who get to experience life in the nursing home first hand. Cheerful and happy looking patients are a good sign. Ask the staff how long they have worked in the facility. If most answers are less than six months, this means you have to go look for another one.

While it is not easy to part away from a love one, sometimes placing them under professional care is the best option. You have to think about how to improve their living condition to allow them to live their lives to the fullest. If you have chosen well, a home can provide the love, care and attention that your elderly needs.




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