A practical guide to choosing, considering, nursing home care, nursing home questions

Considering a Nursing Home?

NURSING HOME LINGO
Many nursing homes usually refer to the people or patients who live there as "residents" and people who are there for rehabilitation may be referred to as "temporary residents".

IT ISN'T EASY TO BE CONSIDERING A NURSING HOME
We have put two people we love - parents in nursing homes at different times in different places, and now we are thinking about nursing home care for another family member. Our experience may be helpful if you are thinking about nursing home care for mom, dad, husband, wife or other family member. Understanding what to expect and what to ask about may help you to create your own nursing home review. Don't be shy to ask specific nursing home care questions when calling or checking out a nursing home in-person such as our Unusual Questions to ask before Choosing a Nursing Home. In the near future, I will be adding a section on guilt verses care -weighing the facts. In the meantime, consider our Tips for Helping a Person Living in a Nursing Home to prepare yourself for the time ahead. Life will change for the person going into a nursing home, but so will your life.

CHANGING NEEDS
As time goes by in a nursing home for people who are there for long-term care, and physical abilities begin to fail, the services or help needed for a person living there becomes increasingly greater. Even if the person you love is capable of taking care of themselves in some ways initially, it is important to find out what assistance the nursing home offers as a persons abilities begin to diminish. Check these Unusual Questions to ask before Choosing a Nursing Home which includes experiences and comments.

THE TRANSITION FROM HOME TO NURSING HOME
People can act and re-act differently living in a nursing home than they did before they went into the nursing home. You may be surprised at the information in How People Can Change when Living in a Nursing Home. The mental and physical abilities of people living in a nursing home vary greatly. Their desire to participate in formal activities varies with their ability, interests and mental state- which may be affected by Alzheimer's, other illnesses, or even be self-imposed - plus there's the factor of unfamiliar surroundings. The length of time someone has lived in a nursing home seems to have an added affect on him or her. A person in a nursing home's desire to "go home" might effect participation in structured activities, any desire to make new friends or acquaintances, or their personality as to withdraw within themselves, or become angry, or very, very sad. Few, but some people people are relieved to be moving into a nursing home, which is also discussed in Mom's Here to Stay.

or read it all:

Click here to go to the next page: questions about choosing a nursing home