The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports that 43 percent of Americans over 65 will require nursing home care at some point, and that even more chronically ill, younger people need skilled nursing facility services than ever before. There are some simple things you can do to select a nursing home that's right for you or your loved one.
Instructions
Check the Status of Nursing Homes
1. Unannounced inspections are conducted at all long-term care facilities that receive Medicare and/or Medicaid Funds every nine to 15 months. The results of these surveys, along with self-reported information from the nursing facilities, are summarized on the Nursing Home Compare website (see "Resources" below).
You can look up a facility by name or search by city, county, state or zip to compare all facilities in your area.You can also sort your list according to how big the facility is, ownership type, and whether it accepts Medicare, Medicaid or both.
2. About 3 percent of nursing homes are "non-participating" and do not accept Medicare or Medicaid. These facilities will not be in the Nursing Home Compare database, but they still require licensing inspections. Your state licensing agency for nursing and long-term care (LTC) facilities may have a reporting system for non-participating facilities similar to Nursing Home Compare. Contact your state health or human services department for details.
It's a good idea to check with the licensing agency even for participating facilities, since the state may have additional requirements for licensure not covered by the federal standards. You can find out whether there are any sanctions against the facility's license or if any penalties have been assessed for violations of state nursing home standards.
3. Contact an LTC Ombudsman (See "Resources" below), who is an advocate for nursing homes residents and not employed by the facility. The Older Americans Act established the long-term care ombudsman program to protect the health and rights of nursing home residents and to resolve complaints made by, or on behalf of, residents. The ombudsman probably visits her assigned facilities regularly, so becomes familiar with the staff and the residents. She can provide current information regarding the facility's status and trends. She also assists with nursing home placement and can answer questions and provide information about the facility's services.
4. Visit the Nursing Facility and ask to see the Statement of Deficiencies (Form CMS-2567). Federal regulations require participating facilities to make these available so you can review the most recent survey and complaint investigation reports. These will tell you if the facility has been cited for a violation and how it has been corrected. Look for references to a "substandard quality of care," which could indicate abuse, quality of life or quality of care.
Tags: Home Compare, long-term care, Medicare Medicaid, nursing home, Nursing Home Compare