So, how does one really find out about the quality of the care?

Hello Ken:
I have visited 4 nursing homes within the past week. I am doing research now in case my Mom will require placement. She has alzheimers and unless a miracle cure is found, she will just get worse with this disease. My question: I know that what is most important is the quality of the care... not pretty walls or calendar of activities. So, how does one really find out the quality of the care?
Thanks'
Minnie

Hello Minnie:

Your question is one that has baffled me for many years. It is a very subjective process. Most people will define quality based on the results of inspection surveys, certification by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, the lack of resident or family complaints and a positive report form the local Ombudsman. There are 15 Quality indicators that a surveyor uses to determine quality. If you go to www.medicare.gov/NHCompare you can search for the rating of the homes you have visited. The report is somewhat complicated. I will be devoting an upcoming podcast to understanding this report.

Here is my take on quality care. It is a total package that includes a well maintained building and physical plant. Are the residents engaged socially, physically and mentally and spiritually? Are the residents well groomed and are their cloths neat and clean? Are their medical needs being address promptly? Is the food wholesome and tasty? Does the staff respond to your questions without hedging and completely? Are the residents safe? Are residents given individual attention? As in other areas of our life; after all is said and done it ends up being a feeling in your gut, I like this place, this place has good vibes.

So continue to visit facilities, ask questions, make notes about each visit and the quality facilities will begin to show themselves. Your last question should be: Will my Mom be happy here? Let me know how things turn out.

Good Luck,
Ken

Am I on the right track?

Hi! Ken:
I really do not know where to start. My Mom had lived on and off with me for the last forty year. We had been not only Mother and daughter but friends and companions Now, I am throng apart because I have to do something that I always said I would never do, put my mother in a nursing home.

I have no experience and I would welcome any information you can supply.
My Mother is strictly MEDICAID. She receives SSI, I already talked to the State and my Mom's doctor is currently completing the form for me to forward this to the state which will be follow up by a nurse which will evaluate my Mom's situation (for what I am understand this is call a PAS).

Meanwhile I am trying to visit nursing homes, up to now I only visited one, the place is not bad at the beginning but when I went to the area that my Mom will be in ( she has Alzheimer's) I was totally upset. I will be visiting her as much as I can, I know that this is one of the most important things for me to do, that way I can keep on eye in my Mother's care, but still breaks my heart.

I will be visiting another this coming Wednesday, they are not a lot of options in my area unless I have money ( which I do not). I would appreciate if you can give any other information for me to expedite the process of putting my Mom in an institution. She is declining rapidly and I am afraid that something will happen to her.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Graciela E Prescia

Hello Graciela:

There are a couple of options for you to consider. One is to place your Mom in the nursing home you mentioned. This will then give you time to find a better facility for her. It will be easier to search for a nursing home when you know your Mom is safe and cared for in that facility. Second you may want to consider a live in companion that will care for your Mom while you search. You may want to call the local Visiting Nurse Agency or a home health care agency for availability and fees.

Remember nursing homes cannot discriminate against residents based on their method of payment. Gracie from what you have described to me I think you are being to hard on yourself, you’ve talk with your Mom’s doctor, the Medicaid paper work is being completed, you’ve visited local nursing homes and you are looking for other options. You are doing better than 90 percent of the people I talk with.

Alzheimer’s requires a lot of controls and monitoring you may see locked areas. It may be very noisy, crying, shouting or residents may be franticly passing the hallways or rocking in back and forth in their chairs to name a few. The staff should be very active with the residents to keep them safe. It’s not the ideal situation for your Mom but Alzheimer’s doesn’t care about that.

I last thing that I want you to do is to take care of yourself, caring for an Alzheimer’s patient is very demanding and stressful on you. You can’t let your health suffer by caring for your Mom. If you become ill who will advocate for your Mom in the nursing home. Put your health first so you can monitor you Mom’s care in the nursing home.

I hope this has helped you. Let me know if you need any more assistance. Keep up the good work.

Ken

Asked By: Neil

Where Can I Get Nursing Home Ratings?

If you live in the United States, you can find nursing home ratings at Nursing Home Compare. Nursing Home Compare is a Federal Government Site that has detailed information and reports on nursing homes. My book outlines which information is important and how to decipher what you will find there.

Nursing Home Compare: Provides an interactive tool that allows Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers to access comparison information about nursing homes. It contains information on every Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country, including over 17,000 nationwide. Nursing Home Compare includes:

* Nursing home characteristics such as number of beds, type of ownership and whether or not the nursing home participates in Medicare, Medicaid or both.
* Resident characteristics including percent of residents with pressure sore, percent of residents with urinary incontinence and more.
* Summary information about nursing homes during their last State inspection.
* Information on the number of registered nurses, licensed practical or vocational nurses, and nursing assistants in each nursing home.


Thanks for your question I hope it was helpful.

Ken