Choosing a Nursing Home

How to Choose the Right Nursing Home

Choosing a Nursing Home - Beginning the Nursing Home Search

When choosing a nursing home, you should visit every nursing home facility you're considering. When you first walk into the nursing home, notice how the facility smells. Does this nursing home appear clean and well organized? Does the nursing home staff seem helpful and attentive to residents? These simple observations will alert you to the conditions that nursing home residents live with daily, and help you choose the right nursing home.

When you are choosing a nursing home facility, ask to talk with the Nursing Home Administrator or the Director of Nursing, ask to see the written policies about situations that might concern you. Find out whether those policies are actually followed. Pay attention if you feel that you are not getting straight answers. Notice when the answers are inconsistent with what you have observed.

When choosing, also talk with the nursing home staff, family members and, if possible, speak with nursing home residents who live in the facility you are considering as a choice. This will help you to judge things for yourself, rather than simply accepting what you are told by a nursing home employee.

When Choosing a Nursing Home Ask Tough Questions

Once you're considering choosing a nursing home, call the Texas Department of Human Services (1-800-458-9858) for more information on that particular nursing home. The TDHS can answer questions such as:

Has the TDHS proposed any terminations for this nursing home facility in the last two years?
How many complaints have been filed against this nursing home facility in the past two years?
Out of the complaints filed against this nursing home, how many complaints were valid?
Has this nursing home facility been cited in the past two years?
How many "quality of care" violations have been cited in the past two years?
Has the owner of this nursing home facility had other facilities recommended for termination?

While visiting a nursing home, ask the Administrator and/or Director of Nursing tough questions such as the following:

Can you show me the most recent survey report and any follow up reports from the Texas Department of Human Services?
Can I see the complaints or reports filed against the nursing home facility?
What types of complaints were filed against this nursing home facility in the past?
What are your hiring policies? Where do you find your employees?
What is the nursing home facility's policy about the ratio of nurses aides to residents for the day, evening and night shifts?
Are the nurses aides certified?
What kind of turnover do you experience for nurses and nurses aides?
What is the ratio of registered nurses to nursing home residents for the day, evening and night shifts?
Is there an independent nursing home resident family council at this facility? Please give me the name and telephone number of the president.
How many nursing home residents are physically or chemically restrained? What is the facility policy about the use of restraints? May I see the policy?
How many nursing home residents have pressure sores or bed sores? How many of these residents developed the pressure sores or bed sores in the facility? What do you do to prevent pressure sores and bed sores? How do you treat pressure sores and bed sores?
What is the facility policy about what administrative steps must be taken before a resident can be taken to the hospital for an emergency?
What do you do to help residents with range of motion to help prevent immobility?
What type of planned activities are offered to keep residents mentally alert and socially engaging? How do you deal with residents' behavior problems?
How does a Medicaid resident's treatment and level of service differ from that of a non-Medicaid resident?

Choosing a Nursing Home - Research the Nuring Home's History

Every year, Texas regulators inspect each nursing home in the state and prepare a survey report. These reports cite deficiencies found by state surveyors during recent inspections. It also lists violations in detail, along with any efforts to correct the problems. These reports can be a great help in choosing the right nursing home for your loved one.

The Texas Department of Human Services can give you the complete compliance history of any nursing home. Although most nursing homes have some violations, pay particular attention to recent violations. Pay particular attention to how many complaints against the nursing home have been filed in the past year. See how many "quality of care" violations have been cited in the past two years. Also notice whether the owner of the facility you are visiting has had other facilities recommended for termination.

The Health Care Financing Administration maintains a database of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country. This database contains state by state rankings, including reports on problem nursing homes and other elder care facilities. Anyone involved in choosing a nursing home should review these reports before making their final choice of a nursing home.

Commitment to Nursing Home Residents and their Families

If you have unfortunately chosen the wrong nursing home, and you loved one has suffered from nursing home abuse, negligence or neglect, experienced nursing home lawyer Jeffrey H. Rasansky has one mission: to fight the rights of your and your loved ones. Jeff has successfully represented numerous nursing home abuse and neglect victims.

Jeff Rasansky is licensed to practice before all state courts in Texas, the United States District Courts in the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas and the Fifth United States Circuit Court of Appeals.

Click here to contact The Law Offices of Jeff Rasansky.