When is a nursing home appropriate for the Alzheimer's patient? by William G. Hammond, JD

Caring for an Alzheimer's patient can be a huge burden. When it becomes too hard and too time consuming for you to take care of your loved one, it may be time to look for a nursing home.

When you feel comfortable, then you can start planning ahead which will help avoid crisis situations later. You may not ever need a nursing home, but act in a proactive manner just in case the day comes. It is well known that making decisions in a crisis situation can be very difficult and stressful on everyone, so make sure you plan ahead of time.

You may find information and a list of nursing homes in your area from your local Alzheimer’s Association, or an elder law firm. They are most likely to have a list of facilities that offer dementia care or at least a dementia unit.

When you find the nursing home that will be the most appropriate for your loved one with Alzheimer’s, make sure you check the following:

§What is its appearance? When was their license accredited?

§Is the facility location convenient for you and your family for frequent visits?

§How does the staff react to questions -- are their greetings warm and welcoming, do they interact with your loved one?

§How well do the resident participants socialize with other people?

§Are visits allowed and are they encouraged?

§What is the staff ratio per patient? It should be at least 1 staff member for 8 persons.

§Is it possible to take a tour of the facility and the rooms?

§If there is a waiting list, how long will it take before your loved one can be accepted?

§Do they have a single room or do they share with another patient?

§Are these rooms furnished or unfurnished? If unfurnished, you will be able to bring your own furniture and decorate your room as wanted.

§Are there elevators? What kind of emergency plan do they have if a patient needs to be evacuated promptly?

§How do they handle patients that wander and what kind of security do they have?

These are some of the questions you can ask on your first visit. You can always come back later or give them a call later if you have other questions.

Go to Page 2

BIO:

William G. Hammond, JD is a nationally known elder law attorney and founder of The Alzheimer’s Resource Center. He is a frequent guest on radio and television and has developed innovative solutions to guide families who have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s. For more information you can visit his website at www.BeatAlzheimers.com

Some Aditional Articles you may enjoy

8 Weight loss tips by Beth Scott

An Alternative to Botox by J. Ratliff

Calcium Supplement by Rolf Rasmusson

5 Tips for Treatment of Dry Skin by Maja Gabric Zirchelbach, MD

Common treatments of hair loss in women. by Richard Mitchell

Click a Number to go to an article index page
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39