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Nursing Home Unthinkable? Be Prepared in Case It’s Inevitable
Don’t rely on brochures. Take a tour, preferably more than once at different times, including mealtimes. Visit more than one floor. Does the place look and smell clean? An odor of urine is a clue to neglect. Are the rooms light and airy? Are residents permitted to have a few personal decorative items or furnishings?
Observe how patients are treated by staff members. Are they courteous, patient, friendly and respectful of patients’ privacy? Are patients greeted by the staff and addressed by name? Are those that need it helped with eating and drinking?
Are there rigid wake-up, bed and meal times, or do patients have some choice? Do the menus offer selections? If possible, talk with a few of the residents and their family members.
Ms. Leefer suggests preparing a checklist for the nursing homes you are considering, listing issues relevant to quality of life, quality of care, safety, nutrition and hydration.
