Thursday, May 1, 2014

Things You Need To Consider Before Putting Loved Ones In Nursing Homes

By Tracie Knight


For the longest time, nursing homes have waned a bad reputation as a place where old people are place and then later on forgotten. While in some cases this may ring the truth, this is not the true function of Nursing Homes in Maine. Also known as skilled facility, homes provide outstanding care for people who need special care that can not be given to them at home.

Deliberate the matter among other family members first before deciding to place an elderly into a home. First of all it is your responsibility to take care of family members, not of total strangers. One good reason is deteriorating health. If the patient can not do even simple activities such as dressing himself or herself, then it is time to consider a skilled facility.

Another reason is deteriorating mental health. If your patient is diagnosed with depression, anxiety or psychosis, it is good to consider putting him or her inside a facility. Patients that have Alzheimer disease will be cared for in special units for people with serious memory problems.

If your loved one needs medical attention twenty four hours a day and your funds are running low, a good nursing home is an option. You will not have to pay immensely high bills than if you had placed the patient in a hospital ward. You can be assured of quality medical care for your patient without having to spend beyond your means.

Once you and your family have made the decision of putting your elderly in a home, the next step is to choose a facility that offers the best assistance for your loved one. There are a lot of nursing homes all over the country, each boasting about the services they can offer. The real task is to find which ones are really dedicated.

Look for a home in the most convenient location. Choose one nearby so that family members can visit the patient as often as they like and without difficulty. Nursing homes that are located near a hospital is good, too, especially if your patient needs regular hospital check ups.

Visit the building to see its condition. A good home should not reek of urine nor smell too much of air fresheners. It should have a homey feeling so that the elderly will be able to adjust easily. The best time to visit is during mealtimes, where you will see firsthand what they usually serve their wards, and during the weekend when there are no managers present. This way you will get the real picture, not the advertised one.

Take the time to talk with residents. Take note of their disposition. Abundant smiles from patients are usually a good sign. Ask the staff members how long they have been working in the community. Longer years of service rendered usually means that the management is doing their job well.

While it is not easy to part away from a love one, sometimes placing them under professional care is the best option. You have to think about how to improve their living condition to allow them to live their lives to the fullest. If you have chosen well, a home can provide the love, care and attention that your elderly needs.




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