At a minimum, all nursing homes receive a licensing inspection, and, if they are approved for Medicare and Medicaid, they receive annual certification inspections, as well.

Nevertheless, even though all facilities are held to the same minimum standards, differences exist. It is helpful to be aware of the facilities in your area and to listen to the experiences and recommendations of others. But, above all, visit any facility you may be considering. Your own observations and perceptions are important in selecting the right nursing home.

A scheduled tour is helpful, but a facility should also be comfortable having you tour in a less formal arrangement. Assessing the atmosphere at other times-e.g. meal times, weekends-allows you to observe resident and staff interaction, as well as to see the involvement of family members. While respecting a resident’s right to privacy, it is possible to learn about the facility by briefly chatting with residents, staff and family members.

The nursing home must inform you about its services, charges and fees. You need to know what is covered in the basic room and board rate, and what extra charges may apply in order to compare costs with other homes. Also, if Medicare is anticipated to be the initial source of payment, will there likely be a “non-Medicare bed” available when Medicare days are exhausted.

A copy of the nursing home’s most recent inspection report should be available for you to review. The report provides more information than you would be able to obtain at the Nursing Home Compare web site, and it is likely that someone at the facility could answer specific questions you may have.

Some of the questions you might ask include:

• Is there a facility newsletter and activity calendar? Is there a sufficient quantity and variety of programs to meet your needs?
• Is there a Resident Council? A Family Council? An active group of Volunteers?
• Does the facility meet your standards for cleanliness, including absence of unpleasant odors?
• How is the Care Plan process conducted? (The Care Plan is the interdisciplinary statement of problems and goals of the resident, and should include resident and family input.)
• Is there evidence of genuine interest in, affection and respect for the resident?
• What are the arrangements for personal physician and other medical needs (e.g. dentist, podiatrist, therapy)?
• Is social service staff available to assist residents and families?
• Since most residents share a room, is there sufficient space for personal possessions, as well as a means to address roommate incompatibility?
• If the opportunity presents itself, could you bring the prospective resident for a visit, perhaps even a meal?
• Is the dining area attractive and well attended?

At Evangelical Homes of Michigan, we believe our history of providing services for more than 120 years and our commitment to being a Christ-based ministry that provides quality care with compassion is a reflection of the type of care you will find at non-profit homes. Most of these homes belong to the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA). If you need to identify an AAHSA member in another area of the country, check the AAHSA web site (AAHSA member search).