Nursing Homes

Choosing a nursing home is a very important decision. You need to think about whether a nursing home is the best choice for you. A nursing home provides care to people who can’t be cared for at home or in the community. For people who can’t take care of themselves due to
physical, emotional, or mental problems, nursing homes can provide a wide range of personal care (like help with feeding or dressing) and health services. For many people, this care generally is custodial, or nonskilled. Care in a nursing home can be very expensive. Nursing homes usually provide 24-hour medical care as well as room, meals, activities, and some personal care. Most nursing homes charge a basic fee for room, meals, and some personal care. You may have to pay extra for other services or care for special medical needs. It is important to get a list of fees in advance and discuss these costs and how you will pay for them.

A nursing home may not be your only choice for your personal care and
health services. Depending on your needs and resources, there are other
kinds of living and care choices available for long-term care. You can get
long-term care at home, in senior centers, at community centers, at adult
day care centers, or in special retirement or assisted living facilities. You
may need help from family and friends, community services, and
professional care agencies. You may wish to talk to your family, doctor,
or a social worker to help decide what long-term care you need.

A nursing home may not be your only choice for your personal care and health services. Depending on your needs and resources, there are other kinds of living and care choices available for long-term care. You can get long-term care at home, in senior centers, at community centers, at adult day care centers, or in special retirement or assisted living facilities. You may need help from family and friends, community services, and professional care agencies. You may wish to talk to your family, doctor, or a social worker to help decide what long-term care you need.

Assisted Living Facilities: These facilities provide help with activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom. They may also help with care most people do themselves like taking medicine or using eye drops and additional services like getting to appointments or preparing meals. Residents often live in their own room or apartment within a building or group of buildings and have some or all of their meals together. Social and recreational activities are usually provided. Some assisted living facilities have health services on site. In most cases, assisted living residents pay a regular monthly rent, and then pay additional fees for the services that they get. The term “Assisted Living” may mean different things in different facilities. Not all assisted living facilities provide the same services. It is important that you contact the facility and make sure they can provide you assistance to meet your needs.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs): CCRCs are retirement communities with more than one kind of housing and different levels of care. Where you live in the CCRC depends on the level of care you need. In the same community, there may be individual homes or apartments for residents who still live on their own, an assisted living facility for people who need some help with daily care, and a nursing home for those who require higher levels of care. Residents move from one level to another based on their needs, but stay within the CCRC.

Before you make a decision about a nursing home, visit the nursing homes that interest you. A visit gives you the chance to see the residents, staff, and facility. It also allows you to talk with nursing home staff, with the residents of the nursing home and their family members. Be sure to call the nursing home office and make an appointment to tour the nursing home before you visit. If you can’t visit the nursing home yourself, you may want to get a family member or friend to visit for you. If a family member or friend can’t visit for you, you can call for information. However, a visit gives you a better way to see the quality of care and life of the residents

Nursing Home Listings