subject: Finding The Right Michigan Nursing Home [print this page] Finding the right Michigan nursing home for a loved one or yourself can be a difficult process. Finding the right fit with the individual is not easy and weeding out care facilities that may not be what you are looking for is challenging. The best way to make sure you get exactly what you need is to be prepared.
What Is a Michigan Nursing Home?
First off, a Michigan nursing home is a place where someone who cannot be cared for at a home but doesnt need a hospital can get the assistance they need. Nursing homes typically have nursing staff on site 24 hours a day. Some of these facilities specialize in areas like physical, speech and occupational therapy. Some even have specialized wards for Alzheimer and dementia patients.
Prep Work
Before you go running around on foot looking at the various facilities around you, do some prep work. Ask your doctor, friends, family and neighbors what experiences they have had with Michigan nursing homes around you. If you are currently in the hospital or were recently you can ask the discharge planner or social worker for recommendations.
Ask Questions
When you go to visit the facilities make sure to ask questions like: Is the staff respectful and friendly? Can you have a pet? What are the visitor hours like? Are food and drink available anytime and is it good? Can you choose your own waking, bed and bath times? Are the facilities clean? Is transportation provided? Is there a phone and TV in the rooms? How much privacy is there?
These kinds of questions will help you screen the various Michigan nursing homes to see which may offer what it is you are looking for.
State Survey Report
In order to be certified as a Medicare/Medicaid provider, Michigan nursing homes need to meet 150 requirements that cover things like how food is stored to protecting residents from abuse. The State Survey Agency inspects nursing homes on these requirements and you can ask to see a copy of this report.
Staffing
No matter how dedicated individuals may be, if there are not enough staff to cover the facility, the care suffers. You should check the ratio of aides to patients in the nursing homes you are visiting. It is also important to note that CMS recommends each patient receive a minimum of 2.8 hours of care from a nursing aide and 1.3 hours from an RN daily. Make sure you ask about how the staff would deal with unexpected happenings such as power loss or a natural disaster that would require an evacuation.
See It For Yourself
You want to scope out any facility before you commit to staying there. Snoop around and beware of any locations that object to you doing so. Make sure to pay attention to the atmosphere when you are there. Look around to see if the other residents are smiling or if it peaceful or homey. Stay for a meal with the residents if you can and test out the food and talk to the residents. This is a good way to get a feel for how the care is for the patients staying in the Michigan nursing home.
