Thus, in a typical 100-bed home, the facility is at risk of 46,900 ways to be wrong. When you first drive up to the facility, drive around and look around. A facility does not have to be new to be the best, but it does have to be well maintained. Every nursing home should have a current license issued by the state, meaning it has passed inspection and meets minimum standards. In addition to licensing, the facility may have chosen to participate in an accreditation program which has been developed to raise industry standards.
Accreditation is a positive sign.
This is a good opportunity to just stand back and observe how things are going. Do the residents look as if they are attended to, are staff attentive or sitting around. Although there may be pressure to choose a nursing home quickly, you are strongly urged to tour the facilities under consideration before making a decision. One of the most powerful factors affecting quality of life and quality of care is a visitor. Regular visits from family and friends offer reassurance to the resident that someone still cares.