Key Things to Look for When Choosing a Nursing Home for Your Parents #Healthy2020 #eldercare #agingparents #caregivers

Caring for aging parents is something many of us will deal with as we -- and our parents -- age. While we may prefer that our parents spend their older years living in their home? Sometimes that's not medically feasible. In such cases, an assisted living facility or nursing home may be the best option to ensure their safety and health. Picking the best facility can be challenging. As part of my #Healthy2020 series, The Weekend Gourmet's correspondent is sharing some key things to consider as you research assisted living and nursing home facilities. This feature may contain affiliate links. 

As you get older, you may have to deal with the challenge of your parents aging as well -- which can be very difficult. There may come a time when you and the rest of the family have to take responsibility for their care. This may mean visiting on a more regular basis to help them with their daily tasks -- or even moving them in with you. However, if their health begins to decline and they need round-the-clock care, it may be time to consider moving them into an assisted living facility or nursing home.

This is a very tough decision for any child to make. However, it may ultimately be the best thing to do for your parents -- because it allows you to ensure that they are looked after properly by trained professionals. However, choosing the right nursing home for your specific circumstances can be tough! There are likely dozens of facilities in your area, but some are much better than others. Here are some key things you should look for when researching, to determine the best possible assisted living facility or nursing home for your parents. 

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Abuse Prevention Systems 

In most cases, the staff at nursing homes are caring people who want to give something back. However, abuse is still an issue at some elder care facilities -- so this is one of the most important things you need to watch out for. If your parent is in a nursing home and they experience abuse, it's very important that you hire a nursing home abuse attorney right away and file a case against the nursing home. To help avoid an abuse situation, be sure to ask each facility you're considering about its abuse reporting and prevention system. If there's a clear system in place to keep all residents safe, that’s definitely a good sign. However, if a facility doesn’t have any abuse protections in place, you should definitely look elsewhere. 

Facilities and Programs

Checking the facilities and programs that each facility offers is also important. It’s vitally important for elderly people to keep their minds and bodies active...and to engage in lots of social activities. Some nursing homes offer lots of different facilities and programs -- including groups and clubs for specific hobbies and interests. If you visit a facility and there isn’t much to entertain the residents apart from a television, that’s not a good sign. You should also ask about things like food/dining to get a sense of the quality and the options of foods and meal plans available. Some facilities offer residents chef-created dining options...some even feature an onsite ice cream parlor! Facilities with the best resident programs and food will naturally be more expensive. However, if you can afford it, your loved one will most likely experience a better quality of life. 

Visiting Hours 

It's important that you maintain a good relationship with your loved ones, even though they're living in an assisted living facility or nursing home. Be sure to inquire about the facility's visiting hours. If they're very restrictive and you can only visit during a one- or two-hour window each day, that’s not ideal. For example: what if a facility's visiting hours don’t fit around your work schedule? It’s best to look for a facility with flexible visiting hours so you're able to visit at convenient times.

These are only a few of the things you should look for when searching for a good assisted living or nursing home for your elderly parent(s). However, the most important thing to remember is that you should involve your parents in the decision as much as possible. By doing so, you're more likely to find a place that feels right for them.