The decision to place yourself or a family member into a nursing home is one of the most difficult decisions you may ever be asked to make. That’s why it’s important, if that time comes, to have a plan and to know what questions to ask.
In a perfect world, you’d have plenty of time to visit the nursing homes, talk to the residents, meet the care staff, sample the food and so on. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world. Often decisions have to be made quickly and without a lot of information or comparisons.
Our Mission at Sinclair Prosser Gasior is to help our Clients…
• Find the right nursing home
• Get the best care there
• Pay for it without going broke
In order to accomplish all of this, we use a systematic approach to learn about you, your wants, needs and preferences. Once we have gathered sufficient information, then we are able to determine the type of nursing homes which can meet your needs. But that’s just the start.
Next, you need to know what questions to ask to make an informed choice. Here are some of the basic things to consider:
1. Is a nursing home necessary or are there alternatives?
In my entire practice as an Elder Law attorney, I’ve never once had a client say they were looking forward to going into a nursing home. Yet, often there are alternatives that people simply don’t know about. Talk to your physician, social workers, and other professionals to see if there are assisted living, home health care, or other alternatives for you.
2. How do I find the right nursing home?
The best way is to take a systematic approach like we discussed earlier. If this isn’t possible, at the very least, shop around. Personally visit each nursing home you are considering (make unannounced visits) and ask for recommendations. Call us for a free report Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Guide.
3. Once I find the right nursing home, how can I get in?
Surviving the admissions process isn’t always easy. Be up front with the nursing homes admissions director, be prepared to tell them all about your situation, including your finances, and be prepared to negotiate.
4. Who will pay for my care… Me, Medicare, Medicaid?
Again, it depends upon your personal situation and knowledge of this difficult area of the law. You also have to be sure to take advantage of the special protections available for your spouse, if he or she will not also be in the nursing home. A good Elder Law attorney can help you through this entire process.
5. Can they make my kids pay for my care?
Not if you handle the admissions process properly. Just be careful not to sign everything that’s put in front of you without a thorough understanding of all the documents.
6. Once I get in, how can I get the best care there?
The key here is to have a proper care plan in place. That’s a plan developed by the nursing home staff professionals (and you) to determine exactly what kind of care you’ll get. Putting a proper care plan in place is perhaps the most important step you can take… the care plan is part of your contract. If you feel you can’t be the best advocate for yourself, then it’s important to get help from an Elder Law attorney or a geriatric care manager or another health professional.
7. What are the nursing home’s duties to me?
Ask them for a copy of their duties under the Nursing Home Reform Act. Because of a previous history of inadequate care, in the late 1980s Congress passed laws which outline the minimum standards for health, safety, and resident rights in nursing homes. Chances are you’ll be surprised and pleased to learn all of your rights… but it’s necessary that you take the time to do so. If you’d like, contact us and we can send you further information on your rights as a nursing home resident.
8. Is there someone who can help me with all of this?
You can get help from many professionals… from an Elder Law attorney to a geriatric care manager, to social workers. Be sure to deal with a professional who understands the broad range of issues that arise when you or a loved one goes into a nursing home.
We offer a variety of services from the most basic educational information to comprehensive legal services and the review of the admissions agreement. You choose what, if any, services you want and we price our fees accordingly. We will always tell you up front exactly what our service will cost.
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