The Department of Health would like to encourage you to spend a little time thinking about your wishes and preferences. Even if you were not ready to choose a nursing home right now, we would like to provide you with some resources and tips you can consider in the future. Nursing homes provide both short and long term nursing and rehabilitative care. Individuals who require nursing home care usually have great difficulty completing many daily activities independently. These individuals require supervision or assistance to complete activities such as taking medications, walking, completing grooming tasks like brushing their hair and teeth, taking a bath or shower, and using the toilet.
Hospitals tend to discharge people sooner than they have in the past.
Often a brief nursing home stay allows an individual to recuperate prior to returning to their previous lifestyle. The physician will determine the services you will need and make a recommendation for the length of your stay. Your physician may provide you with opinions as to the appropriate nursing homes to meet your needs. If you are in a hospital, the hospital social worker can also help you choose a nursing home and plan your discharge. The Area Agency on Aging will also complete a need assessment to determine the level of care and length of stay appropriate to your situation.