loading...

Monday, July 2, 2018

6 Big Questions To Ask Newark NJ Nursing Homes Before Choosing It For A Loved One

By William Jackson


When a loved one can no longer care for himself on his own, there are practical and safety issues that have to be addressed. If there is no available family member to take the person in, finding a private facility that can provide a safe nurturing environment becomes necessary. To ensure you select the right facility, there are important questions to ask of Newark NJ nursing homes before making a final decision.

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.

A facility that has Medicare or Medicaid certification, will be on the listed on their online service. You can search facilities geographically or put in the specific facility name. The website will let you sort the data using a wide variety of criteria. It has star rankings for things like inspections, staff to guest ratios, and quality of care.

You need to know what the policies of the facilities are. You should be provided with some type of policies and procedures pamphlet. You might want to know if a resident is required to accept a roommate, and what the process for pairing guests is. If your loved currently has a pet, you will want to know if pets are allowed to live with residents. You need to know how the facility handles difficult patients.

Safety and security are very important topics to discuss. You should ask about fire alarms, smoke detectors, and escape routes in case of fire. What kind of backup generators the facility has may be important to you. You need to find out how they make sure the guests' belongings are secured. They may or may not have safety deposit boxes available for instance. You will want to know if security guards are on duty twenty-four hours a day.

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.

For most families the cost is a primary factor in choosing a facility. Each home you visit must provide you with a comprehensive fee schedule as mandated by law. This should tell exactly what the monthly fees cover. Normally items like meal choice, gym access, and therapy are extra and not covered by the monthly fee.

Placing a loved one in a nursing home is never easy. You want the best for this person you care so much about. The facility you choose has to have the safest, most nurturing environment you can afford. It should be the kind of home you would want for yourself.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment