A Family Guide to the Nursing Home Transition: What You Need to Know

It’s not unusual for an older family member to transition to a nursing home. When frequent supervision or round-the-clock healthcare is required, older adults may find it easier and safer to seek care from a quality nursing home instead of living alone. Transitioning to these communities can be challenging for families, as it’s a major lifestyle change for everyone involved. Some families may worry about visitation rules or safety issues. With the right approach and research, a transition to a nursing home can go smoothly and efficiently, keeping your loved one safe and happy during their golden years.

Visitation

Nursing home visitation is not just allowed but highly encouraged. Family visitation helps residents maintain social skills and foster enrichment. You can even help with parties, events, and other fun activities. Be sure to visit often to check on your loved one and stay involved in each other’s lives. The transition is a lot smoother when you know you can visit anytime you’d like. You can even set a regular schedule to make visiting easier to plan and make time for.

Resident Rights

Nursing home residents obviously have rights, and understanding them can help prevent health issues or mistreatment concerns. Your loved one has the right to be treated with respect and dignity as an individual in an environment free from abuse or neglect. If nurses or staff engage in inappropriate or rude behavior, you’ll need to take precautions to ensure your loved one’s rights are understood and respected. A lack of respect may warrant reporting or even a community change. 

Communities Vary in Quality

As you may know, not all nursing homes are created equal. There are many factors at play when it comes to determining the quality of a nursing home. While good nursing homes should have plenty of friendly and qualified staff, poor quality communities will usually feature overcrowding and understaffing. A lack of quality care can result in neglect and abuse, so it’s important to do your research before selecting the right community for your loved one. Many larger major urban hubs are struggling with overcrowding in certain communities.

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles is one of the most populated cities in the United States, second to only New York City. Nearly a quarter of the entire Los Angeles population—one in four—is an older adult. There are many senior communities to accommodate this growing population, but there never seems to be quite enough. While senior healthcare and amenities are plentiful in the City of Angels, careful research must be done to avoid selecting an overcrowded or understaffed nursing home. Neglect can look like missed meals or bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers from lack of quality healthcare and supervision. You should consult with a Los Angeles nursing home bedsore lawyer if you or a loved one have any signs of this type of neglect.

Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale has an even higher ratio of seniors than Los Angeles. It’s a popular retirement destination, as its senior-friendly golf courses, resorts, and other amenities draw in the older adult crowd. However, not all is friendly for seniors. Many nursing homes and senior communities in the area have received citations or fines for lack of quality care or sanitation issues. The larger senior population results in higher demand and a lack of staff to keep up with it. Thoroughly weigh your nursing home options in areas like Scottsdale with a prevalent older adult population.

Orlando, Florida

Orlando, and the rest of Florida, is one of the top retirement destinations for its sunny climate, beautiful beaches, and family-friendly amenities. The state has over five million seniors, and retirement communities are struggling to keep up. While there are many top-quality nursing homes in The Sunshine State, you’ll need to be careful to avoid selecting an overcrowded home. Orlando has seen frequent overcrowding issues in many of its nursing homes. 

Take Tours Together

Touring a community before moving in is highly encouraged. You can get a feel for the community, its staff, and residents. When you tour, you should be able to have access to most, if not all, of the communal spaces. Check for issues with sanitation or neglect. Every room should be fairly clean and odor-free within reason. Residents should be treated with individual respect but properly supervised to avoid health and safety hazards like wandering or falling. Staff should be accessible, friendly, and knowledgable. 

Gather Funds

Nursing homes can cost a pretty penny. You’ll want to assess your finances, like retirement funds and other savings, to ensure you can pay for the nursing home’s monthly expenses. The price tag is often worth it for the level of care received, as residents don’t have to worry about housing, supervision, food, or healthcare. If using retirement funds, be sure to mind taxation laws in your state.

Family Involvement

Caring for a loved one in a nursing home is more than just visiting. Learn what’s going on in the community in terms of parties and events. Help plan and chaperone these events to stay close to your loved one. Help them participate and have a good time. They should be happy and enriched in their community beyond just basic housing and healthcare needs. If you have children, be sure they are involved in your loved one’s care as well. Grandchildren are very important to older adults, as social connections and bonds with multiple age groups can help improve memory and cognitive ability.

Conclusion

If your loved one needs additional amenities, like memory care, many nursing homes provide these amenities at no extra cost. Evaluate what you need in a nursing home and compare your options. Pay attention to red flags, like unsupervised wandering, rude staff, or sanitation problems. No community will be perfect, but there should never be excuses made for abuse or neglect. With an informed decision, your loved one can transition to nursing home living easily, reducing your stress and improving your bond.