Elderwerks Senior Resource Directory 2025/2026

YOU CAN’T JUDGE A NURSING HOME

YOU CAN’T JUDGE A NURSING HOME BY THE COLOR OF ITS WALLS

We try very hard to make sure families choose the best skilled nursing facility for their loved ones based upon their loved ones’ needs. When we work with families, we try to give them as much guidance as they will accept so they can make an educated and informed decision. This decision should be based upon facts by investigating the care and environment of the facility. There are times, however, when we’ll talk to the family and be told they didn’t like the facility because “they didn’t like the colors of the walls” or they thought “it looked old”. We know this is an emotional time, but this shouldn’t be an emotional decision. Unfortunately, there will always be facilities people don’t prefer because the décor or the furniture is old. Are we placing our loved ones in a hotel where they’re going to stay for a weekend? Or are we making a long-term decision that may last several months or the rest of their life? Of course, we want to make sure the facility is clean and appealing, but if the furniture is old, is that a reason to omit them from consideration? When you narrow down the list of facilities within your budget or geographic area, take along a checklist to make sure you ask the right questions and look at the facility from the inside out. Prioritize what you’re looking for. You need to understand what your loved one feels is important and take their wants and needs into consideration rather than your own. Medicare.gov evaluates every facility in the country from 1 to 5 stars. 1 is the lowest rating and 5 highest based on quality measures.

There are two types of skilled nursing facilities - rehabilitation and long term care. Rehab facilities typically are rated 4 to 5-stars by Medicare. gov. Rehab facilities are typically paid for by Medicare or private insurance. Tour the rehab facility, investigate the organization managing it (in-house or external contract), talk to others who have used the facility, interview physical therapists, and watch while other people are getting their rehab to make an informed decision. Ask the ratio of CNA’s to patients. If the ratio is high then your loved one will wait a long time for assistance. If you’re looking for a long-term skilled nursing facility that your loved one can afford to private pay for a year or more, they can typically choose the facility that has a higher rating. They can then go onto Medicaid after living onsite. If your loved one is low-income and must immediately go onto Medicaid, then the choices become more narrow. Expect to move your loved one into a facility that is rated 1 to 3 stars. Skilled nursing facilities are surveyed annually by the Department of Public Health. These reviews will list deficiencies, violations and how the facility worked to remedy the problem situation. By law, all facilities must provide the potential resident or their family with a copy of this document. The first thing you should do when touring a facility is to ask for a copy of this document so you can review it to determine if it’s the best place for your loved one.

We also talk with families who tell us “It’s too far to drive”. The decision should be based on the care needs of your loved one. We can empathize with the families we assist. We’ve been there many times with our own families. What we have learned is to think about what is best for our loved ones. Taking a tour of the potential facility is a way to determine if happy staff and patients are part of the environment. That is more important than up-to-date decorating. If your loved one needs a specialized treatment, for example dialysis, does the facility provide this in-house or will they need to be transported three times a week to a dialysis center? If your family member has dementia, does the care facility provide this specialized type of care management? Does the Staff create a home like setting and really cares about the residents’ needs as the priority? It’s important to tour with an open mind. The goal is to make sure your loved ones receive the proper care and see if the facility is a good fit for them and their needs. So, ask questions, tour the facility, and try not to mind the color of the walls. Jennifer Prell is President and Founder of Elderwerks Educational Services, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization offering complimentary information, referrals and guidance to older adults, seniors and their families for senior living, care, support and benefits. Visit Elderwerks.org or call (855) 462-0100 for personal assistance.

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(855) 462 0100

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