Can You Tour Potential Nursing Homes?

The Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution was the first ten amendments that expanded on the original document and helped to define exactly what a citizen is entitled to as it relates to their interactions with the government and its agencies. Since that first set of detailed rights was agreed to in 1789, there have been additional bills of rights that apply to everything from apartment renters to college students. There is also a bill of rights for nursing home residents created by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

This bill of rights establishes the foundation of the standard of care that your loved one should expect when they become a resident in an accredited nursing home facility. That is the minimum level of support available at the facility, and that should be spelled out in the contract that you’ll sign with them if your loved one moves in.

Before you get to the contracts, you may want to know, “Can you tour potential nursing homes?” You should be able to.

You’ll want to tour several nursing homes to see which would be the best place for your loved one. Any reputable nursing home should be happy to have your visit. In other words, they should have nothing to hide. That doesn’t mean you should “surprise” them. It is a good idea to schedule a tour and be taken around by a representative who can answer your questions.

The following guidelines can help you make the most out of your nursing home tour.

Your First Impression

First impressions matter when touring a nursing home. What is your first impression when you walk through the door? Hopefully, you’ll be greeted by a friendly staff. There should also be some level of security that screens who is allowed into the facility.

Is there natural light and a welcoming atmosphere? Does it feel like home or an institution? Most importantly, can you imagine your loved one being a part of this community? If you have a guy feeling that something is “off,” you should give that consideration as a potential red flag. However, it is important to try and identify exactly what you perceive to be wrong and if that is something that could be addressed by the facility.

What Are the Common Areas Like?

A nursing home is a community. Many residents who aren’t confined to their beds will have opportunities to socialize and engage with others. The common room is where there will be special gatherings for holidays and birthday parties. This is also where the facility might hold ongoing activities such as arts and crafts, bingo or card tournaments. It is also where residents can just come and hang out.

The common area should be inviting and comfortable. It should be able to accommodate the residents and their visitors. Common areas could also have televisions, a piano, and maybe an outdoor patio.

On your tour, you should take in how the residents are interacting in the common room. Does it look like they’ve just been “parked” there, or are they engaging with the staff and each other?

What Is a Typical Resident Room Like?

The resident rooms should feel more like a bedroom and not a hospital room. Of course, there should be some additional safety features such as non-slip flooring, grab bars in the bathroom, raised toilet seats, and bed rails. You should also ask if you can bring in some of your loved one’s furniture, such as a favorite chair or end table.

Is There a High Staff Turnover?

Qualified and experienced staff is vital to provide care for the residents of a nursing home. A nursing home that is understaffed can increase the risk of abuse. That doesn’t mean the abuse is intentional. However, a lack of staff can often mean residents aren’t given the attention they might need for daily activities like grooming, changing bedding, etc.

You should ask the facility representative about the staff turnaround history. You should also inquire about how often physicians make their rounds and the ratio of nurses to residents. There should also be certified nursing assistants who also provide support. It is important to know the care responsibilities of your loved one, such as catheter changes, infusions, and wound dressings.

You should also inquire if the nursing home has a “no lift” policy. That would prohibit staff from moving fallen residents and instead call 911 for emergency responders to tend to the residents.

How Is the Food?

The ideal nursing home should have a dining hall that feels less like a cafeteria and more like a cozy restaurant. That should be easy to accomplish with soft lighting, proper dishware, silverware, a menu from which residents can choose their meals, and appetizing food. You could think about scheduling your tour during mealtime so you can get a sense of how the food is prepared, served, and enjoyed by the residents.

If your loved one has dietary restrictions, you need to find out how the facility will accommodate those.

What Are Your Senses Telling You?

Finally, you need to deploy all of your senses on your nursing home tour. You need to look for signs of neglect.

Are all the residents well groomed? Are they wearing clean clothes? Is the place clean? In addition to all the things you’ll see, what is the prevailing odor throughout the facility? What kinds of sounds are you hearing, such as residents calling for help and not getting a response?

Any problems you detect with your senses could be a warning sign of abuse and something you need to consider.

The Bottom Line

You should not expect the nursing facility that you choose for your loved one to check all the boxes on your wish list, but it should come close. If the nursing facility you tour raises more questions without answers, you should consider moving on to the next one.

You can also reach out to an attorney who specializes in nursing home abuse complaints. They can help you make an informed decision about the best place for your loved one. You want to make the right choice.