What You Need to Know When Choosing Long-Term Care for Your Loved One

September 07, 2018 | The Villager | Reading Time 2:00 Minutes

Here are 6 Important Things You Need to Know When Choosing Long-Term Care for Your Loved One:

Q: There are so many options when it comes to long term care, where do I start?

A: A great place to start is the Center For Medicare Services website. Each year surveyors from the state come into skilled nursing facilities and complete an assessment of the building. They post their findings online (https://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/search.html?) This is a great tool to start narrowing down to a few communities that you would like to schedule a tour of.

Q: What would I look for or ask about during a tour?

A: Think about the things that are important to your loved one, for example if being social is very important to them, ask to see the current activities calendar. It is important to feel like the atmosphere is the right fit for your loved one.

Q: Doesn’t moving my loved one to a long-term care community mean that I have given up on them?

A: Far from it! It means that you recognize that their current living situation is not allowing them to live their life to their fullest capabilities. Our staff is trained to assist people with activities of daily living, so that they can focus on thriving in the community.

Q: What if I decide to move my loved one somewhere and am unhappy with the quality of care?

A: Ongoing and open communication between staff members and family is key. Advocating on behalf of your loved one in a calm and respectful manner is the best way to bring and concerns to the attention of the staff.

Q: How can I help my loved one adjust to the move?

A: Bringing a few things that your loved one is familiar with can help them feel like they are at home. Sharing information on likes, dislikes and the history of your loved can help staff personalize the care that they provide to meet their needs. Once your loved one has moved in, don’t be a stranger! Visitors are always welcome and can help ease some of the strong emotions that come with a large change.

Q: How can I stay up to date with my loved ones care if they are unable to communicate with me?

A: Introduce yourself to multiple staff members, the social worker, nurse manager and the floor staff providing direct care to your loved one will all be great resources to stay in the loop with your loved one.

Author: Nicole Holmes, Director of Admissions and Marketing

For more information about Friendship Village’s long-term skilled care, and a personal visit, please contact Nicole Holmes at 269-381-0560 or [email protected].