Selecting A Skilled Nursing Facility For A Loved One

You are searching for a skilled nursing facility for a grandparent, parent, or another close family member. Perhaps it will be for a short stay while your loved one recovers from an injury or illness, or it may be long-term care that is needed. Whatever you may be looking for, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the choices in front of you and by the circumstances that surround your loved one's health.

When making a decision about a skilled nursing facility, it is important to remember that everyone has different needs in this regard. They also have different preferences and desires. There are some essential elements that must be kept in mind when looking for a suitable center. The level of care that will be received is important to the final decision that is made. Every nursing center offers its own unique environment and its own brand of care for residents.

You need to find out if a nursing center offers enhanced clinical capabilities or any specialty programs for care. You also have to find out about the physician coverage at the center and whether the treatment facility offers a therapy gym if your family member requires occupational therapy, speech therapy, or some other type of therapy. You also need to find out what kind of rehabilitative care is offered through the residence where your parent or grandparent will be staying. It helps to know what rehab equipment your relative will have access to. Find out if patients and families are encouraged by the center to participate in developing a plan for care. You also need to find out which medical professionals will be available to treat the patient.

Prescription drugs are another consideration. As a concerned loved one of a person who will be staying at the skilled nursing facility, you need to find out how the drugs are ordered and how they will be administered. Having all of this information at your disposal and all of the pertinent details will help to put your mind at ease.

A skilled nursing facility will have all of the necessary licensure and certifications to operate, right? While it should have, you need to be sure for your own peace of mind-- and for that of your loved one.

Take the time to find out if the treatment unit is licensed in the particular state that you live in. Find out if it has the appropriate certification to offer coverage for both Medicare as well as Medicaid. You also want to look into whether it has a formal quality assurance program.

Is there anything specific that makes the place stand out? For instance, has it received any awards or any additional certificates that are worthwhile to know about? If any of these circumstances exist then your family needs to know about them, for the sake of the loved one in question.