Question

Research the different nursing care facilities in your community. Discuss the pros and cons of the facility in terms of what they offer. Provide a brief report with the following questions:

• What is the basic rate for room, board, and services (it’s a good idea to get this information in writing)?
• What services are covered by this rate?
• Are there other services available and how much do they cost?
• What are the payment policies?
• What is the refund policy if someone leaves before the end of a month?
• What is the policy for rate increases?
• How long has the current administration been in place?
• Is there enough staff available to meet my needs?
• Is there frequent staff turnover?
• Is some level of nursing care provided (RN, LPN, Nursing
• Assistant)? How often is it available?
• Who will help me with medications if I need it (e.g. reminding me to take them, opening the bottle)?
• Can someone administer medications to me if I can’t take them myself (e.g. applying medication to my skin, putting a pill in my mouth)?
• Can someone help me if I need special care (e.g. caring for a wound)?
• What happens if I have an emergency? Can I get help right away?
• Are staffs suitably dressed, personable, and outgoing?
• Do the staff members treat residents with respect and dignity?
• Do staff members treat each other in a professional manner?
• What language does most of the staff speak?
• What type of help with personal care is available (e.g. bathing, dressing)?
• How flexible is the schedule for receiving help with personal care?
• What, if any, transportation services are available? (e.g. medical appointments, shopping, religious services).
• Will staff arrange for activities (e.g. hair appointment, concert)?
• How does the home support and accommodate personal hobbies?
• Are there regularly planned activities that I will enjoy?
• Will I be able to attend religious services of my choice?
• Can I bring my pet with me when I move?
• When can I have visitors?
• Are there shops, a library, a park, or other amenities within walking distance?
• Is the home close to activities I enjoy?
• Is the home on a bus line?
• Is there an outside area to sit, walk, or garden?
• Are there shops, a library, a park, or other amenities within walking distance?
• Is the home close to activities I enjoy?
• Is the home on a bus line?
• Is there an outside area to sit, walk, or garden?
• Is the floor plan easy to follow?
• Are doorways, hallways, and rooms accommodating to wheelchairs and walkers?
• Are there hand rails to help with walking and in the bathroom?
• Are cupboards and shelves easy to reach?
• Are there nonskid floors and firm carpets to assist walking?
• Does the home have good natural and artificial lighting?
• Is the home clean, free of odors, and well heated and cooled?
• Does the home meet my standards of cleanliness?
• Is the home free from obvious environmental hazards?
• Are the home’s rooms clean, safe, and adequate for my needs?
• Will I have free use of common areas, such as the kitchen, activity rooms, toilet facilities, dining room, or grounds?
• Can I smoke in my room or in common areas?
• What furniture is provided?
• Can I bring along some of my furniture or other personal items?
• Can I adjust the temperature of my room?
• Is there a sit-down shower?
• Can I have my own personal phone line or internet connection?
• Are emergency procedures clearly posted?
• Am I able to lock my room and/or are there locked areas in each room for personal valuables?
• Is the food pleasing, nutritious, adequate, and attractively served?
• What if I don’t like what is being served?
• Can I cook in my room?
• Are snacks available?
• Are there specific meal times or are they flexible?
• Is there a refrigerator available to store my personal food?
• Will the home meet my dietary or cultural food preferences?
• Can I request special foods?
• Do other residents socialize with each other and appear happy and comfortable?
• Do residents speak favorably of the facility?
• Do the residents look like people I want to live with?
• How are room changes and roommate concerns addressed?
• Is there a resident group that meets?
• Do any of the other residents have a history of violent or other problem behaviors? How are these situations handled by staff?

Answer 1

The pros and cons of the facility :

• Nursing care facility provide friendly, responsive, safe and secure care for long term illness patients.
• These are specialised facilities for persons who cant do their daily activities individually.
• Skilled staffs are available for providing quality care.
• Residential care homes helps in providing close relationship between staffs and patients.
• Patients feel at home in the care facility

The disadvantages are

• Expensive
• Only limited availability of recognised good homes . More homes may be in cities
• If the patient donot likes the staffs in facility , it is hard for him to live there and also to change to other facility
• Sometimes low standards of care is provided.

What is the basic rate for room, board, and services (it’s a good idea to get this information in writing)?

Senior Home Care: $15 - $25 per hour for hourly care and $150 - $350 per day for 24-hour live-in care. Assisted Living Community: $4,000 per month + additional fees for meals, special services and activities + additional cost for private duty caregiver services. The average monthly cost for private pay homes is about $1,500 - $2,000. A single room can cost more, up to about $3,000.

What services are covered by this rate?

• Room
• Giving medication
• Assisting in daily care activities
• 24-hour emergency care
• Social and recreational activities

Are there other services available and how much do they cost?

• Access to telephones and mails
• Emergency call systems
• Privacy
• Protection of valuables

What are the payment policies?

Medicare, medicaid and private insurers pay for care facilities .

Insurance will be eligible for some services only.

What is the refund policy if someone leaves before the end of a month?

Usually they may provide a prebill for the basic care services and other care activities. Some institutions will get a signed agreement from patient for accepting their policies to pay private money rather than insurance reimbursement . So be careful before signing. Some facilities donot stop care even if client run out of money.

Is there enough staff available to meet my needs?

24 hr nursing care is provided to the residents.  Care facilities with more than 200 residents, an additional staff member is required for each additional 60 residents. In homes with fewer than 50 residents, the administrator may also serve as the case manager