As our parents age, there are a lot of matters that must be taken into consideration. Perhaps chief amongst them are their health, safety, and overall wellbeing. This can be challenging, especially when your parents get to a point where they are struggling to care for themselves. Although most of us want our parents to be able to age in their homes where they are comfortable, they also need the care and attention they deserve, and this isn’t always available when they are at home.
When this is the case, many individuals choose to seek out a nursing home for their parents. This is a big step that can have a positive influence on your parents’ lives. It can help ensure that they are properly taken care of, receive the attention they deserve, maintain a comfortable living environment, and have consistent social interaction. Yet, choosing a nursing home can be challenging, particularly given the fact that nursing home neglect and abuse is a very real concern.
But you don’t have to blindly choose a nursing home for you parents. Instead, you can be proactive in selecting the right home by taking the following steps:
- Know what is most important to you and your parents, whether that’s nutrition, physical therapy, or specialized medical care for those with dementia or some other medical condition
- Talk to those you trust to see if they have recommendations
- Call around to ask nursing homes questions that you need answered
- Visit nursing homes to get a feeling for what they have to offer and how residents are treated
- Be vocal during your visits so that you don’t have any lingering questions after your visits
- Visit multiple times to make sure you have an accurate picture of the care being offered at each nursing home
- Read any contracts before signing off on them to know exactly what you and your parents are getting
Deciding to move your parents into a nursing home can be stressful. This may be especially true considering the fact that choosing a nursing home is just one of the many steps that your parents will have to make if they want to ensure that their health, financial decisions, and their assets are fully protected. If they haven’t already, they should also consider creating wills and trusts that meet their needs, as well as create powers of attorney that work for them. If you and your parents want to learn more about how to address these matters, you can look into legal assistance that suits your needs.
