When a loved one can no longer take care of himself, and there is not a family member who can take him into their home, finding a place where he will be safe and well taken care of becomes necessary. In order to avoid a bad situation, you must ask a lot of questions of the staff of the Newark NJ nursing homes you are considering.
You have to be sure that the facility you choose is accredited and certified. The Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is highly respected and requires facilities to pass rigorous inspections. If you see a Gold Seal of Approval from them displayed in a facility, it means that the quality and safety level requirements have been met.
Any facility that has Medicaid or Medicare certification will be on a list you can find online. You can look up facilities by geographical region or enter a specific facility name. The website lets you sort data using all kinds of criteria. There are star rankings indicating the results of inspections, recommended guest to staff ratios, and quality of care.
You need to ask for a copy of the policies and procedures. You may want to ask about certain policies that are especially important to your love one while you are meeting with the staff. You might ask about roommates and whether or not the loved one can choose his own or will have one chosen for him. You could ask what the policy is regarding pets, visiting hours, and smoking. You should ask how the staff handles difficult patients.
Questions about security and safety should be at the top of your list. You will want to know if there are smoke detectors in every room, where the fire alarms are, and what evacuation plans are in place. The subject of securing belongings should be addressed. Some facilities offer residents safety deposit boxes. You should ask whether there are security guards on the premises.
Many facilities have planned activities for residents and exercise and gaming areas. If the home has a pool or tennis courts on site, you can ask about hours of operation and how these areas are monitored. There may be special event rooms available to residents to celebrate birthdays and holidays. You need to know if there is a fee for using them and if they have to be reserved in advance.
Unless your loved one is financially independent, the cost will be an important factor in deciding which facility is the most feasible. You should receive an exact fee schedule from the nursing home outlining what is covered. This is required by law. Things like therapy, meal choice, and gym access are often extra.
Placing a loved one in a nursing home is never easy. If this is the only choice you have, you must make sure you have done everything possible to secure a nurturing and safe environment for your aging relative. You should not do less than you would want for yourself.
You have to be sure that the facility you choose is accredited and certified. The Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is highly respected and requires facilities to pass rigorous inspections. If you see a Gold Seal of Approval from them displayed in a facility, it means that the quality and safety level requirements have been met.
Any facility that has Medicaid or Medicare certification will be on a list you can find online. You can look up facilities by geographical region or enter a specific facility name. The website lets you sort data using all kinds of criteria. There are star rankings indicating the results of inspections, recommended guest to staff ratios, and quality of care.
You need to ask for a copy of the policies and procedures. You may want to ask about certain policies that are especially important to your love one while you are meeting with the staff. You might ask about roommates and whether or not the loved one can choose his own or will have one chosen for him. You could ask what the policy is regarding pets, visiting hours, and smoking. You should ask how the staff handles difficult patients.
Questions about security and safety should be at the top of your list. You will want to know if there are smoke detectors in every room, where the fire alarms are, and what evacuation plans are in place. The subject of securing belongings should be addressed. Some facilities offer residents safety deposit boxes. You should ask whether there are security guards on the premises.
Many facilities have planned activities for residents and exercise and gaming areas. If the home has a pool or tennis courts on site, you can ask about hours of operation and how these areas are monitored. There may be special event rooms available to residents to celebrate birthdays and holidays. You need to know if there is a fee for using them and if they have to be reserved in advance.
Unless your loved one is financially independent, the cost will be an important factor in deciding which facility is the most feasible. You should receive an exact fee schedule from the nursing home outlining what is covered. This is required by law. Things like therapy, meal choice, and gym access are often extra.
Placing a loved one in a nursing home is never easy. If this is the only choice you have, you must make sure you have done everything possible to secure a nurturing and safe environment for your aging relative. You should not do less than you would want for yourself.
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You can get a detailed list of the things to consider before picking Newark NJ nursing homes at http://www.gowd.us right now.
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