Ask if they reserve a bed if you need to be transferred to a hospital. Medicaid will pay for 7 days of bedhold. Medicare and private-pay residents will have to pay for each day the bed is held but not more than the regular daily rate. Sometimes if hospital stay is extended you can make an agreement with the nursing home. Find out how valuables are protected.
Theft is sometimes a problem in nursing homes.
If at all possible, you should leave valuable items with friends or relatives. Find out if there is a patient's council and a way that patients can be involved in decision making. Active community involvement by individuals and groups of volunteers can greatly extend the amount of patient services available and help reduce the isolation and loneliness that many nursing home patients feel. Be sure you take into consideration what you are comfortable with when making your selection. Check the food being served.