Compliments and complaints help administrators make life better for the residents. Choosing a nursing home for a loved one is difficult. And all too often, families wait until a crisis arises before starting the decision-making process. Although planning ahead is ideal, there are ways to find a suitable home quickly when you don't have a choice. An area ombudsman is a good place to start.
Ombudsmen are advocates for nursing home residents and they help resolve complaints.
They stop short, however, of making referrals. I can't even tell people where not to go. I don't want that responsibility. She and other ombudsmen provide families with a list of the names, addresses and phone numbers of area nursing homes. The list also identifies each facility's specialized programs and available therapies.