What Should You Know Before Placing Your Parent in a Nursing Home?

Nursing homes that receive Medicare and Medicaid federal funds must comply with federal legislation which calls for a high quality of care. Though all states must comply, at a minimum, with the federal regulations, some states have adopted tougher laws.

Nursing homes must adhere to a list of compliances such as:

• Initially conducting a comprehensive and accurate assessment of each resident's functional capacity; from developing a comprehensive care plan for every patient to having an adequate number of staff to carry out the compliances.

• To maintain good grooming, nutrition, and personal oral hygiene to prevent the deterioration of a resident's ability to bathe, dress, groom, transfer and ambulate, toilet, eat, and to communicate.

• To ensure patients do not develop bed sores or pressure sores; to receive proper treatment and assistive devices to maintain vision and hearing abilities;

• To ensure that the resident receives adequate supervision and assistive devices to prevent accidents.

• To ensure that the resident has the right to choose activities, schedules, and health care.

• Are eligible for pharmaceutical services.

• Are free of any significant medication errors.

• To provide appropriate treatment and services to incontinent residents to restore as much normal bladder functioning as possible.

• To maintain accessible records for each resident;

• To administer in a manner that enables the nursing home to use its resources effectively and efficiently.

• To maintain dignity and respect of each resident and to promote each resident’s quality of life.

Basic regulations and laws are in place but how they are enforced?

Before placing your loved ones in a nursing home, do your research, visit many homes and pop in unexpected not just during their scheduled times, and don’t hesitate consulting elder care experts and get referrals from friends and family who you actually know.