Often, according to Long-Term Care Ombudsman Eileen Barlow, “the when the need arises to place a loved one in a nursing home, the decision must be made on the spur of the moment. Someone falls, an individual can no longer care for himself or has progressed in an illness or condition so that placement is the only recourse.”
According to Barlow, “When choosing a nursing home, speak with someone you trust (doctors, family, friends, neighbors, clergy). Ask others who have received these services if they were satisfied with the quality of care. Visit the home in which you are interested. Stop, look, listen, smell! Is the building aesthetically pleasing inside and out? Look at the condition of the occupants. Are they clean and well-groomed? Are they dressed appropriately (in seasonal clothing)? Is their clothing in need of repair? Does the clothing match? Are the services of a beautician/barber available?”
Click to read the full Letter to the Editor from Eileen Barlow