Home Equipping Leaders Adults Guidelines for Selecting a Long-Term Healthcare Facility

Guidelines for Selecting a Long-Term Healthcare Facility

1. What to Do First!

Identify long-term healthcare facilities in your preferred geographical area. Note the types of services you require and the type of services each facility offers.

Ask around.

Ask your medical doctor, pastor, parish nurse, friends, and neighbors if they, or people they know, have firsthand knowledge about the facilities you’ve identified.

Contact long-term healthcare facilities.

  • Phone the desired facilities to determine vacancies.
  • Visit at least 3 or 4 long-term healthcare facilities before making a final decision.
  • Visit each long-term healthcare facility more than once, if possible.
  • Visit each facility at different times of the day and on different days of the week.

2. Checklist

Long-term healthcare facility:

Address:

Phone:

Observe Residents

Are residents clean, neat, and well groomed? Yes No
Are residents up and out of bed? Yes No
Are residents dressed in their own clothes? Yes No
Are residents active and friendly? Yes No
Are residents treated with dignity and respect? Yes No
Do residents look and act happy? Yes No


Comments:

Observe Building

Are the following rooms clean and in good repair:

Residents’ rooms? Yes No
Bathrooms? Yes No
Kitchen? Yes No
Lounge/visitor’s area? Yes No
Activity room? Yes No
Are personal items (e.g., furniture, photos, radios, TVs, etc.) permitted in the rooms? Yes No

How many persons live in one room? ________


Does this make a difference to you? Yes No

Comments:

Observe Staff


Is there an RN and/or LPN on duty? Yes No
What is the staff-resident ratio? ______
Are staff members smiling and friendly? Yes No
Are staff members neat and clean? Yes No
Are staff members visible and available? Yes No


Do staff members seem kind and considerate toward:

Residents? Yes No
Visitors? Yes No
Family members? Yes No
Other staff members? Yes No

Comments:


Listen

Do the staff speak courteously with the residents? Yes No
Do the staff speak to the residents as adults? Yes No
Do residents complain about the facility? Yes No
Do the staff complain about working conditions? Yes No

Comments:

Food

Do residents have a choice in the food served? Yes No
Is the dining room convenient, cheerful, and comfortable? Yes No
Is food appetizing, adequate, and attractively served? Yes No
Are fresh fruits and vegetables served? Yes No
Are staff and/or volunteers helping residents who need assistance? Yes No
Are snacks served throughout the day and in the evening? Yes No
Are meals available for guests? Yes No

Comments:

Smell

Is there a strong body or urine odor throughout the building? Yes No
Is there a strong deodorant smell? Yes No

Comments:

Ask

Are religious services provided? Yes No
Is there a residents’ council? Yes No
Is there an activities program? Yes No
Is recreational therapy provided? Yes No
Is physical therapy provided? Yes No
Is occupational therapy provided? Yes No
Is speech therapy provided? Yes No

Are the following professionals on staff:

Medical doctors? Yes No
Dentist? Yes No
Optometrist? Yes No
Podiatrist? Yes No
Chaplain? Yes No
Social Worker? Yes No
Are there other professionals on the staff? Yes No

Comments:

Does this facility meet personal interest needs? Yes No


Comments:

Money


Is a deposit required? Yes No
Are provisions available to handle personal funds? Yes No

What other costs are involved:

Drugs and medications? Yes No
Beauty salon/barber? Yes No
Activity fees? Yes No
Laundry? Yes No
Snacks? Yes No
May a resident stay when his/her own funds have run out? Yes No

Comments:

How often does the resident, family member, or guardian receive an itemized accounting of personal funds?

In the event of death, what happens to any unused funds?

3. Additional Comments:

Contact Us for Help

View staff by program area to ask for additional assistance.

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