Senses

Your five senses are important tools in determining nursing home quality. If you visit a nursing home, make the most of them. Look for things like residents participating in activities and see if they have accessibility to different area. Watch how staff interact with residents both in and out of their rooms. Check out the walls.  Are there pictures, crafts, and memorabilia on them? Don’t forget to get of glimpse at closets, corners, shower facilities, wheelchairs and walkers.

Listen if staff members talk to residents and if they know their names. You shouldn’t hear just the television either. Keep your ear open for the sounds of residents’ voices and different activities.  Touch is also an important part of quality care. Do staff members greet residents with a handshake or a hug? Do they stop to a hold their hands and listen to their concerns?  

You should also smell for odors. They usually indicate either that linens aren’t being changed promptly or bedsores are not being properly treated. Don’t forget to taste the food too. Living in a nursing home may help your mom recover from a hip replacement, but it won’t do nearly as much as good if she hates the meals.