Conversations about growing old and needing long term care facilities are never easy. However, at some point, you, your spouse, aging parents, or other loved ones will need help. Even if we want to, we cannot always provide the long term care that they need. You may get to a point in life where a long term care facility is the only available option.
Finding Long Term Care Facilities Near Me
It’s important that you consider all of your options, such as in-home care, before you start searching for “long term care facilities near me”. In cases where your loved one is recovering from a temporary illness or surgery, then in-home care may be more appropriate.
Some of the benefits associated with in-home care are allowing people to have some freedom, making them feel like they are not in a facility, cost, and preservation of an individual’s dignity. You can have a look at the community services such as meal delivery, adult day care, programs, and classes that offer respite to whoever is taking care of the person. Of course, eventually, you may need to settle on a long term care facility.
Here are some tips on how you can find the right long term care facilities near me.
Cleanliness
This sounds like a positive factor which some people choose to ignore. You might get inside a long term care facilities near me and see a great facility that is fixed with modern lighting systems, beautiful decor and water features, but you should never think all those make it clean. Recent research findings estimate that 64% of individuals who are 65 and older in nursing homes do suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
During the tour of the rehab facilities, it is advisable that you have a close look at the residents’ rooms and the other popular areas. Check if they are clean. Are the people living there well groomed and clean? If not, that should act as a red flag.
Staff Quality
It is important that you seek to get information concerning the management staff together with the caregivers and how experienced they are. Consider the ratio of staff to residents. Even some of the best caregivers are known to offer inadequate care when they are responsible for too many residents.
Check how happy the staff is, did they greet you when you were walking in? How are they treating the residents together with their team? At times, it is very challenging to work in a long term care facility and not all people can fit into such a career.
Any long term care facility in St Louis should consider it a priority to recruit people who know how to show love even when their job is very challenging.
The Onsite Medical Personnel
In most cases, your loved one might be going to a skilled nursing facility since they are suffering from a medical condition. Before you settle on any facility, it is advisable that you check if there is any registered nurses or physicians on site. If not, how often is the nurse around? The more serious the residents’ needs are, the more often medical professionals need to be on site.
Physical Set Up
Do the long term care facilities near me look like an apartment or a hospital? Are the residents capable of bringing their furniture together with other belongings to make the facility look like home?
How simple is it to navigate the layout, especially for the residents who suffer from memory difficulties? How secure is it when the residents wander off? No one is interested in taking their relative to a prison-like long term care facility in Kirkwood.
Conclusion
Now that you have an idea of the essential things to consider when choosing a long term care facilities near me, you can proceed and get a list of the facilities located in your area. However, during your research, you will always come across some horror stories; never let such stories deter you from your search.
