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.
