Picking a skilled nursing facility can be hard. There are a lot of options out there and there are many things to consider. This is a big decision to make, however there are some things to look for to help make this process easier.
We’ve compiled a list from industry professionals on what they tell their friends and what they look for themselves when considering skilled care.
TOUR any facility you are considering. Tour multiple buildings so you can get a feel of the building. As most buildings are closed to touring due to COVID -19, ask for a virtual tour, the facility's website, any pictures they have, and their social media handles.
For an in-person tour, make sure to go twice with one of the visits being during a meal time.
WATCH the interaction between staff members and the residents who live there. It shouldn't be robotic. Residents should be happy and talking to the staff like they are friends.
LOOK for cleanliness. While most buildings will look clean you can tell if they deep clean by looking for dust on the picture frames. While most people think smell is an inevitable part of nursing facilities, it is not. Smell is a sign of poor cleanliness.
For the full list of what to know when considering skilled care, access this tip sheet from Momentum Skilled Services which provides additional insider insight as well as:
- Pointers to help you make more confident decisions about skilled care for your loved one when the time comes
- Defines exactly what a skilled nursing facility is and a common term used to refer to this type of care facility
- What a facility should not feel like
- Plus more!
This Tip Sheet is one of many tools in our Caregiver Toolkit, to gain access to the full kit, visit here.