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Worcester, MA 01606

Deciding to place a family member in a nursing home can be emotional and stressful.

Choosing the right home needn’t be. Even when a facility such as Knollwood Nursing Center comes highly recommended, a well-planned personal review is the best step you can take towards the right decision.

First, while quality of care is foremost in your search, it is important to determine how care will be funded short and long term. Be realistic. Your “short list” should include facilities that fit your financial criteria.

Next, if possible consider locations convenient to those who will be visiting the person most often. Studies show that nursing home residents may recover more quickly and their happiness and well-being may be improved through the regular attention of family and friends. Frequent visitors can also monitor the resident’s condition, become more involved in care planning, and respond to emergency situations more quickly.

Consider a nursing home’s ability to accommodate unique or special care needs such as psychiatric care, extra supervision for wanderers, ventilator availability or Alzheimer’s care. Religious, language, and cultural preferences, as well as ethnic dietary restrictions can also be vitally important to a resident’s overall health and peace of mind, particularly if the stay is likely to be long-term or permanent.

Finally, schedule a tour of each facility under consideration and bring a Nursing Home Evaluation Checklist with you. Impressive furnishings in the visitor’s lobby cannot replace quality care in the residents’ rooms, so ask to see the entire facility. Pay attention to the way residents are treated by the staff and whether there appears to be sufficient staff for the number of residents. Observe the overall environment. How does it make you feel? How are you treated? Remember, these are the people who will be taking care of your loved one, perhaps for the rest of his or her life.

Whether your review includes two facilities or ten, when you are diligent in the process you will be confident in your decision to place your loved one at Knollwood Nursing Center.