The simple truth is that no one looks forward to putting their loved one in a nursing home. For many people, this is an unavoidable part of life.

There are a number of important things to consider when trying to decide how to choose a nursing home. And because this can often be an emotional time, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This article is intended to make the process a little less stressful.

Let’s take a look at a few things you need to consider when the time comes to transition your loved one into full-time care.

How To Choose a Nursing Home: 5 Things to Look For

Putting your loved one in a nursing home is a difficult decision, as is choosing one. Here is our guide for how to select the best nursing home for your needs.

1. What Services Do They Provide?

A nursing home typically offers 24-hour long-term care, yet you will find that every facility is different. Be sure to ask plenty of questions regarding what services are included in the cost.

For example, are all meals included? This can make an enormous difference in the quality of life of a nursing home resident. Be sure to visit at meal times to observe the quality of meals and the atmosphere.

Also, inquire about any special health care services they provide to patients. After all, as residents age and their health deteriorates, special care requirements will arise.

2. How Well Are They Staffed?

The quality of the staff at a nursing home is incredibly important. After all, they are the ones responsible for providing hands-on care to each patient.

Talk to the administrators about the training process and the staff turn-over rate. Is there an RN on duty 24/7? What is the staff to patient ratio? Those are all important questions.

Most assisted living centers have the answers to most questions on their website. Kirs-Leigh Assisted Living, for example, is a great place to start when considering a full-time care facility for an Alzheimer’s patient. They make that clear on their site home page.

3. Size and Location

When considering a nursing home, you’ll definitely want to take location into consideration. Try to pick a facility as close to home as possible so that family and friends can visit. Size is also an important factor because there is always the possibility of overcrowding.

4. How Much Independence is Provided?

Another major consideration is how much independence will your loved one have? Just because they will be living in full-time nursing care doesn’t mean they wish to completely give up their sense of individuality. Find out if each patient has their own room and how much alone they receive each day.

5. Are There Any Red Flags?

Pay attention to anything that just doesn’t seem right to you. Look for red flags existing lawsuits or legal actions that make you question whether or not you’d feel comfortable leaving your loved one in their care around the clock. Trust your instincts and don’t let them pressure you into making a decision on the spot.

Making a Smart Choice

We all want our loved ones to receive the best care possible. The problem is knowing who to trust to provide the level of care they deserve.

The process of deciding how to choose a nursing home isn’t a simple one, but this nursing home checklist should provide some guidance to help give you peace of mind.

Ask the right questions, trust your gut, and believe that you ultimately make the best decision for everyone involved.

Click here to learn everything you need to know about opening a nursing home.