By Sunny Aaron
If you are making the difficult decision to put your loved one into a nursing home, you want to do all you can to ensure you’re choosing the right one. However, that's no easy task with nearly 700 licensed nursing homes in Florida.
There are a lot of bad actors out there, but you’d never be able to tell by looking at their website. Here’s a look at what to avoid in a Florida nursing home and five factors that can help you choose the best fit for your loved one.
What to avoid in a Florida nursing home
The worst nursing homes in Florida have several things in common. Here’s what you should avoid when reviewing nursing home candidates.
1. Low inspection ratings
Site inspections are required to maintain government funding. Inspectors review safety standards, staffing ratios, resident surveys, and health inspections. They compile these factors into a publicly available report.
Review the inspection reports for Florida nursing homes. Cross off any on your list who have a low rating.
2. Understaffing
Many nursing homes are understaffed, so they cannot meet the minimum staffing requirements set out by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Each patient should receive at least 3.48 hours of care daily, including 0.55 from a registered nurse, 2.45 from nurses' aids, and 0.48 from additional staff members.
Ask the nursing home about its average staff-to-patient ratio. If the ratio is high, it will impact your loved one’s quality of care.
3. Underqualified staff
Because many nursing homes have staffing vacancies, residents may receive care from underqualified staff members who do not possess the necessary education, certifications, and training to help care for their residents. Ask the nursing home for information on the staff's qualifications. If the nursing home does not have the right staff to provide your loved one with specialized care, this can be a red flag.
4. Overpriced care
Many people think that more expensive nursing facilities yield better care. That’s not always true. Privately owned nursing homes can prioritize making a profit over offering high-quality care. They may have fewer resources or offer outdated technology to offset the cost.
When you tour the facility, look at the beds, furniture, televisions, and other items. If the environment appears run-down and outdated, your loved one may not be comfortable.
5 factors to help you choose a Florida nursing home
Now that you know what to avoid when looking at Florida nursing homes, here are five factors that you should consider in your search.
1. Personal needs
Not all nursing homes are equipped to provide the specialized care that your loved one needs. Consider their special needs and verify that the facility can attend to them. This can include dietary restrictions, physical therapy, mental health services, specialized memory care for those with dementia, hospice care, and more.
Additionally, ask your loved one if any activities, programming, and services are important to them, including social activities like game nights, recreational games, or religious services.
2. Facility
Go beyond the website and brochure and check out the facility in person to help you and your loved ones get a sense of what it’s really like to live there. Consider how clean it is, what it smells like, how other residents appear, and whether there are any safety hazards.
You can schedule visits but also drop by unannounced. You’ll be able to see how the nursing home operates when they aren’t expecting company.
3. Staffing ratios
The higher the ratio of skilled nursing professionals per patient, the less likely your loved one will receive quality, personalized care. Ask the nursing home about their average staffing ratios, qualifications, certifications, medical experience, average tenure, and more.
Facilities with high turnover and vacancy rates can teach you a lot. The staff has the option to leave, but your loved one may not, so it’s best to avoid these facilities if possible.
4. Meals
Proper nutrition is essential for the elderly to promote their health and well-being. Check in about the facility’s meal planning process. Ask them how they help maintain nutritional standards for their residents, including adhering to any special dietary needs or preferences.
Ask to sample a meal during a visit. Observe the meal rooms to see how the residents enjoy their food, and ask the cook and other kitchen staff members questions.
5. Reviews
Check the nursing home's online reviews. These are publicly available on their Google pages and include a star rating, as well as comments from patients, family members, staff members, and more.
You can also check social media. Search for personal experiences in local neighborhood groups. Ask your family, friends, and colleagues for their input. Personal testimonials can tell you more about what it’s really like at a nursing home than a facility’s website.
Conclusion
You can avoid making a mistake with your loved one’s care by understanding how to objectively review Florida nursing homes and make an informed decision. Choosing the right nursing home is a big deal, so do your research and understand how to identify red flags.
