Elder Law

Be Careful When Choosing a Nursing Home

By Levin & Perconti

Choosing a nursing home should be a carefully thought out process, yet it is usually done in a rush after a loved one is about to be discharged from a hospital. However, medical reporter Lee Bowman has some advice on how to choose a nursing home. First, start with the U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services? Nursing Home Compare, a database that ranks 15,700 nursing home facilities on a star system. Around 12 to 13 percent of nursing homes have the top rating, slightly more than 20 percent the lowest. Experts recommend finding a nursing home close to the patient?s home for the simple reason that it?s easier for family and friends to visit. He suggests meeting the home administrator and inspecting the home?s public areas for upkeep and cleanliness. One way to ensure that nursing home abuse will be diminished is to look for longevity among the key caregivers. To read more strategies about nursing home care, please click the link.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on December 06, 2009 (boomark / email).