Care Managers: Professional care managers can assess your
particular situation and recommend strategies and resources that
best suit your care recipient. They know the range of services,
including nursing home facilities, available in your area, and can
make independent recommendations. (See TakeCare! Vol. 4, Number 2,
Spring 1995). If you feel like you simply can’t wade through
all the variables, a care manager may be the answer. Hourly fees
range between $60-80.
Elder Care Locator: This is a public service of the
Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, which is administered by the National Association of Area
Agencies on Aging. One toll-fee call (800-677-1116) can give you
access to more than 4,800 state and local information and referral
service providers. This may be a particularly good place to start
if you are looking for information on nursing homes in a different
part of the country. The database contains information on a variety
of elder care issues besides nursing homes. The line is open Monday
through Friday from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm (EST).
Getting The Most For Your Medical Dollar: This excellent book, published by The People’s Medical Society, provides a wealth of information about how to choose a nursing home. It includes very detailed checklists which can help you organize your search. Written in a straightforward and easy to understand style, it covers all the areas that you need to consider. The appendix lists the nursing home ombudsman for every state.
Pat Kaufman is a regular contributor to TAKE CARE!
Reprinted from
Choosing a Nursing Home: A Caregiver's Guide with permission
of the National Family Caregivers Association, Kensington, MD, the
nation's only organization for all family caregivers.
1-800-896-3650
National Family Caregivers
Association.
