Evening star., 1953-04-27
Public Invited
By Betty Miles

An unusual house tour il
scheduled next Sunday when the
newly formed Nursing Homes
Association of Montgomery
County invites all interested
persons to visit the nursing
homes there from 2:30 tc
4:30 pm.
All of the private nursing
homeS-approximately 30-have
been contacted by the 18-mem-
ber association and asked tc
participate.
Mrs. Virginia B. Maxwell, hos
pital nurse adviser of Montgom-
cry County, who handles the
very important licensing of the
homes, will discuss them prior
to the tour with persons who
wish to call her, in order to help
them locate those best suited
to their needs. Her office is in
the Health Department at Rock
vile. Mrs. Maxwell also repre-
sentS the State in this position.
1t is suggested the visitors call
the homes they are interested in
to make sure they will be open
that afternoon. The classified
telephone directory lists the
nursing homes in the county
under "SanitoriumS."
Mrs. Maxwell, who feels the
public knows far too little about
this timely topic, offers these
suggestions to those looking for
a nursing home for an elderly
relative:
In selecting the home, find out
whether it is licensed. she
stressed. In Montgomery County
any home having two or more
patients must be by law. Some re-
ceive provisional licenses, which
means that after certain def
ciencies have been corrected a
permanent one will be issued.
The license can be checked at
the home. Her office also gives
information on licenses and
handles complaints about pos
sible violations.
Core for Bed Ridden
There is a tremendous de-
mand for care for bed-ridden
patients, Mrs. Maxwell pointed
out. Most homes have both.
Hospitals don't want chronic
cases and modern living, often in
apartment houses. does not lend
itself to care of the chronically
i'll at home
A bed-ridden patient is defined
as one who cannot get out of
the building unassisted. Under
licensing rules these patients
must be on the first floor of the
building.
There are some care homes in
the county, too. These homes,
which do not have bed-ridden
patients, provide the kind of pro-
tected environment in which
older persons can be self-sufti-
cient.
The Health Department has
encouraged operators, whom Mrs.
Maxwell described as very CO.
operative, to know their limita-
tions when taking a case. They
are encouraged. too. to provide
opportunities for diversion for
the older persons. II believe, y
she said. that the operators in
this area try to help older folks
toward rehabilitation, toward be-
coming more, not less. indie
pendent"
To determine how much actual
nursing care is needed. the older
persons condition should be dis
cussed with the family physician,
Mrs. Maxwell stated. After this
discussion the subject should
be taken up with the director of
the home.
Some persons, for example,
need intravenous feeding. Rela-
tives must learn in advance
whether or not a particular home
can give this care. Learn, too,
she said. who is responsible for
nursing care in the home. Med
ical services should also be dis
cussed.
Diet Vitol
Diet is very important, Mrs.
Maxwell said. The spacing of
meals is equally So" 1t is not
good to have three meals within
eight hours, at 8 am, noon and
pm, for example, with nothing
to eat from 4 pm. until the next
morning. If this schedule is fol-
lowed there should be some sup
Elementary food in the evening.