Nursing Homes

Featured Article

By Sharon Johnson, February 10th, 2009

How Do I Get My Parent Into A Nursing Home?

Once you have narrowed down the choices, go to the nursing homes that have positive reviews and ask for a tour during a mealtime -- this is the busiest time and it's easy to see if the residents appear happy and well-cared for. Ask to see the kitchen, the laundry area, and view the activity calendar, and notice if the home appears to be clean and fresh-smelling. In towns with only one facility, it's often difficult to place a patient in the nursing home because of bed space. Remember that the closest facility isn't always the one the that provides the best care.

The easiest way to place a patient in a nursing home for long-term care is while the patient is in the hospital; if the patient qualifies for Medicare to pay for rehabilitation services or aftercare the nursing home will accept them (make sure that the nursing home also provides long-term care -- some only provide rehabilitation). Medicare will pay up to three months if the patient qualifies -- and nursing homes compete for these patients. The hospital discharge planners can give you the name of local nursing homes, but they won't tell you which one is the best. Do your homework! Family members can meet with nursing home representatives no matter where the patient is; if the patient is in the hospital, the nursing home might be able to act as the middleman to get the patient into the facility of the patient's & family's choice. Remember that once a patient has been admitted, as long as the patient meets the criteria for long-term care the nursing home can't discharge him even if they claim they don't have a long-term bed available or there is a problem with the patient's payment source. Most nursing homes have a formal admissions process, with an Admissions Coordinator who will complete all of the steps necessary to help get the patient admitted. For those patients applying for Medicaid, nursing homes may attempt to require the family or patient to pay a deposit that will be refunded if the patient is approved. Once the patient is already a resident the family isn't obligated to pay this amount (if the patient can afford to pay the amount, he probably doesn't qualify for Medicaid).

The nursing home can't discharge a patient unless they find a safe place that can meet the patient's needs. Sometimes patients who are pending Medicaid approval are placed on a waiting list for a particular nursing home -- it might be wise to place the patient in a facility further away and transfer the patient when a bed becomes available. For patients who aren't in the hospital, call the nursing home directly. Even if the patient is across the country, if a patient is a Medicaid recipient in one state they will probably be eligible in another state (there are some differences from state-to-state). Remember that the patient and/or family must pay for their own transportation to the new facility. In order to have a current resident of a nursing home accepted in another facility, have the Social Worker in the current facility call the new facility and send the paperwork necessary to have the patient accepted. It's easier to have this process followed through by professionals than to do the work yourself. There are nursing home placement services that might be able to help, but this should be a last resort. Patients who have substantial assets should seek the advice of an Elder Law Attorney to see if they are eligible for Medicaid, especially married patients. For more information on nursing home placement, read my book "Taking the Mystery out of Nursing Home Placement" at www.cmseldercare.com

Sharon Johnson, BSW, is a Social Worker with over18 years of direct experience working with the elderly. She is the author of several books on senior care issues and Executive Director of Case Management Solutions, LLC.