Why Hospice, Why Now

Facility

When choosing an Assisted Living Facility, the most important issue to consider is your level of comfort.

Services

Does the nursing home offer social activities or clubs that you’re interested in?
Does the nursing home provide housekeeping and laundry services?
Does the facility provide scheduled transportation or on-demand transportation?
Does the nursing home have a volunteer program?
Can residents manage their own schedules, such as when to wake up, eat, and go to bed?

Medical Care

How are medications managed? Are residents allowed to self-administer medications? If residents need assistance managing medications, how is this done?
How are medical emergencies handled?
How are non-emergency medical situations handled, such as falls?
How are visits from physical therapists, occupational therapists, medical specialists, and physicians scheduled?
Does the staff have special training to deal with dementia or Alzheimer’s?
Is there a special unit or special programming for residents suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s?
How does the staff handle problems like wandering, disorientation, and agitation?
What degree of medical care does the facility provide, and at what point would you need to move to another type of care facility?

Staff

Do people working at the facility seem warm and welcoming?
Do staff members seem helpful, attentive, and patient?
Do staff members interact with residents kindly and respectfully?
Do staff members refer to residents by their names?
Do staff members wear nametags?
Do staff members knock before entering a resident’s room?
How many people are on staff during weekdays? Weekends? Evenings?
Do residents have the same caregivers on a daily basis?
Does the nursing home run background checks on staff members to make sure they haven’t been found guilty of abuse or neglect?

Residents And Facility Culture

Do current residents seem happy and comfortable?
Are residents well groomed and properly dressed?
Do residents socialize or interact with each other?
If you are considering sharing a room, do you think you and your roommate will get along? If not, are there other options for who you might be able to live with?

Meals

Does the menu appeal to you?
If you have religious or medical dietary needs, can the kitchen accommodate you?
Do you have the option of eating in your room rather than in the dining room?
Do residents who need help eating get timely assistance?
Are snacks offered throughout the day?
Can you bring non-resident guests to dinner?
Is alcohol served at meals?

Choosing In-Home Care

When hiring Home Care Aides or Home Health Aides to help with In-Home Care, the most important issues to consider are your level of comfort with the caregivers, your ability to communicate well with the caregivers, the level of care the caregivers can provide.

Does the caregiver speak sufficient English to be easily understood by the patient?
Does the caregiver understand sufficient English to easily understand the patient and the person overseeing the care?
Does the caregiver have experience with the patient’s health situation?
Is the caregiver amenable to changing his or her care giving style based on the particular needs of the patient?
If the caregiver will be offering medical care, does he or she have the requisite qualifications and certifications?
If the caregiver will be helping the patient with bathing, dressing, using the toilet, and other physical activities, is he or she physically strong enough to support the patient?
If the caregiver will be providing transportation services, does he or she have a valid driver’s license?
If there will be multiple caregivers working together, how will you manage division of labor and the social dynamics between caregivers?

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