02/05/2010

Choosing a Nursing Home-Medical Questions to Ask

Making a choice to reside in a nursing home is a difficult emotional decision. As you start to narrow down your search be sure to ask these questions about the medical services included:

• How is a resident involved in his/her own Plan of Treatment?
• What is the nursing home's policy in regard to physicians? Residents of a nursing home have the right to choose an attending physician. If a resident's own physician is unable to respond, the medical director of the facility is responsible for filling in.
• Are other medical services, such as dental, optometric and hearing, available regularly? Is there an added cost for these services? Routine eye, hearing, and dental care is essential to maintain good health. Find out to see if these services are covered by Medicaid or Medicare before paying them.
• Does the home have a transfer agreement with a nearby hospital for emergency care.

For more information, go to: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/nursinghomes.html.

Find senior living and care options nationwide quickly and easily using this Me & My Caregivers resource. Download checklists and tools for decision-support.

— J. Morris, Seattle, WA