3 Vital Considerations When Looking for a Nursing Home for Seniors With Special Needs
Nursing facilities offer a range of personal and health services to make life comfortable for seniors. While some people can stay at the care facility until they recover (usually referred to as "short term rehab"), seniors with special needs like disabilities or other complex medical conditions often become long-term residents. Typically, finding the right fit re: a specialized nursing home facility can be frustrating, but the tips below can help you find a perfect match.
1. Staff With Experience in Handling Complex Health Issues
Seniors with special needs have various medical conditions that require specific management expertise. Typically, individuals with complex health conditions can thrive and enjoy life in a care facility with professionals who can manage the conditions.
For instance, people with health conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease require regular respiratory therapy and supplemental oxygen management. On the other hand, caring for seniors with memory issues involves more than preventing them from wandering. Caregivers in a nursing home should have expertise in dementia and the soft skills to handle residents.
In addition, you should inquire about additional services beyond routine caregiving. Choosing a facility with palliative care and qualified physical therapists is vital if your loved one needs rehabilitation services.
2. Residents’ Wellbeing and Engagement
It’s essential to pay attention to residents when touring a facility and determine their overall mood. If they’re alert and engaged, it can be a good place. Gloomy appearances may be signs of neglect and dissatisfaction.
The activity calendar should be comprehensive to cater to the abilities and interests of residents. However, depending on your loved one’s condition, you must also determine if they can participate in the activities. You can also watch the staff-resident interactions to determine if they provide rich activities or low-quality sensory stimulation.
Most importantly, take note of possible treatment of your loved one by staff and other residents. However, if you’re looking for another facility due to abuse and neglect in your previous care facility, it’s vital to consult a nursing home abuse attorney and seek legal redress.
Remember that your loved one has underlying health conditions that require special attention, so make sure you understand how the facility handles similar cases.
3. Location
The location of the care facility is vital and can impact the emotional health of your loved one. For instance, they may prefer a nursing home close to friends and family. In addition, consider the frequency of your visits to determine if the distance makes sense. This is especially important because the more often a nursing home resident gets visitors, typically, the higher quality of care the resident will receive.
While you can get recommendations from friends and family, your loved one's opinion and needs are crucial to this issue. And that’s because your choice will affect their life at the facility. Get their opinion and find a solution that makes them happy. Your local elder law attorney can also show you how to check for facility violations which may impact your decision.
Most importantly, the nursing home should be close to other medical facilities offering specialized treatment for your loved one’s condition. This makes medical appointments easier and more convenient.
Endnote
Looking for the perfect nursing home for a senior with special needs can be overwhelming. Most facilities offer general care, making finding an option with specialized services difficult. However, you can refine your search by prioritizing the needs and preferences of your loved one.
