The Nursing Facility Scavenger Hunt

If you have a loved one going into a nursing home, it is important for you to make the right decision. Some of the obvious factors include, smell, resident happiness, and building maintenance. Those are issues that are present, and can be seen by anyone walking down a hallway.

With this guide, you will be nudged to look inwards, at the administration. And, hopefully make a better decision for your loved-one.

Being a nurse, I don’t use the term nursing homes. I call them nursing facilities, in essence, it is a better description. There are other terms that can be used, instead of what the staff will use to verbally describe a facility. We’ll go through them. This is a way of appearing sharp. Administration will have the cause to listen to you.

Resident security is a number one issue. The nursing facility should have number pad key locked alarms on all of the doors, including the front door, with a sign that reads, "Please see the charge nurse for code." This security system should be throughout the entire building. A lock on a door is not modern security. Are there monitors at the desk that view court yards, the hall ways, the cleaning closets? If there are monitors, are they in working order? There needs to be some type of electrical security. Also, is there an emergency alram, with a signal that alerts the police and fire department?

When touring a facility, pay close attention to the administration. Administration are the back bone, they can make or break facilities. The administration should be pleasant, and will probably conduct your tour. I hate saying this, but talk above them. Mealtimes are usually posted. Make note of the mealtime, quietly, and then ask what time the resident is wheeled to the dining room. Sneaky? You have to be sneaky. It’s like a scavenger hunt. A nurse must be present in the dining room at all times. Don’t just ask if this occurs, observe it.

Demand to meet the entire administration. The administration should be freed up enough to walk out of their office and speak to you directly. I’ll briefly go over each administrative position. Do not let them try to run over you or try to cut something important short. It’s a system of money, and that is what is important to most nursing facilities.

Keeping in mind that the nursing facility is mostly concerned with money, here is a brief description of each member of administration’s job: The administrator oversees the facility. When touring, be sure the administrator is interacting with the residents. If he is in a meeting, be sure to go back at different times to see this occurrence. The secretary is very busy at her computer; stick your head into her office, and say, “hi.” She does not get many smiles.

Social services are supposed to know a week in advance of any major changes of a resident’s insurance. They usually have full interbet access. Request them to go to these websites: Senion Mag.com, and Department of Human Services. Be sure you meet the social service’s staff, and that they understand you mean it when you say, “I expect to be notified a week in advance of any changes. Do not expect me to be able to take care of anything with importance, unless you notify me a week in advance. If I am not notified a week in advance, I will notify the administrator and possibly the state.” This must be firmly spoken. Social service staff is usually very good. Sometimes, they slack. Let them know where you stand, and if they go against this, then call the administrator. After the administrator, then report to the chain of command. This is what chain of command is: administrator, State Odunbsman, State regulator.

Using the term discharge is most unpleasant. Use the term dismiss. Ask the statement: “Please give me my options for my father.” They are supposed to provide you with a set of options regarding dismissal from their facility. If you ask them to give you options, and they don’t have any options, speak to the administrator immediately. The social services staff must always have options for you. It is not your job to find the options for the future, not at first. Make sure they work for you.

Deciding on a nursing facility is like a scavenger hunt, that’s true. But with the correct ammunition, you will be prepared for whatever you need to make a good, firm decision.