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Once you’ve made the decision that it is
time for your loved-one to move into a long-term care home you can begin the
inspections. When you call for an
appointment to view the home you will probably be invited on a group tour. The person leading the tour will answer your
questions and show you around the home.
They are telling you all the good things about the home and showing you
all the best features in much the same way that a real estate agent would show
you a house.
If your loved-one has dementia and will
need the secure unit in the facility, insist on seeing that floor. Tours do not include every floor as it would
be disruptive to the residents, especially if they have any form of dementia. Ask to visit the dementia floor at a meal
time and watch how the staff gather the residents for the meal. Do they walk with them to the dining room or
are they pulling them or pushing them?
Is there any evidence of hand-feeding?
Is there a feeling that the residents have to hurry with the meal?
When you look at the secure unit, look
closely at the residents. Are any of
them restrained with physical restraints?
Restraints can take several different forms. Placing someone in a wheelchair with a tray
prevents them from getting out of the chair.
Having someone in a bed with the sheets tightly tucked in also prevents
movement and is a form of restraint.
Are the residents just sitting without
interacting with the staff or each other?
Are they left alone in their rooms or the hallways? Notice how the staff interacts not only with the
residents but also with each other.
If you like the nursing home, revisit it. Sit in the lobby and watch the comings and
goings of everyone. Ask visitors if they
are happy with the quality of the care in the home. Just because a home is modern does not mean
that the quality of care will be better than an older home. The staff of any nursing home makes all the
difference in the world. Staff that are
properly trained and administrators and senior management that know how to
manage and foster good relations between staff and residents can make any home
a good fit for your loved-one.
You wouldn’t buy a house after looking at
it for 15 minutes and you shouldn’t accept a nursing home after a 15 minute
tour. This will be the home of your
loved-one and as such it should be safe, clean and welcoming. You want the home to be a real home for them
not just a warehouse. Spend as much time
and effort on finding the right home for your senior as you would on buying a
new car or a new home. It’s better to be
critical in the beginning and to make several trips to see the home again and
again than to move your loved-one into a home where they are unhappy or
ill-treated.
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