“Never put me in a nursing home!” What most of our parents have told us, and what that actually means.

If you were in a room full of individuals over the age of 75, less than ten percent would raise their hand if you asked, “Who wants to move into a nursing home when you are unable to care for yourself?” Of the few who might consider a nursing home, they often say it’s because they couldn’t afford to hire private in-home caregivers, they don’t have family close by, or don’t want to burden family or friends. These are all situations most of us will face someday.

While nursing homes usually come with a negative connotation, a great deal has changed and improved since the days of long, dark hallways and bad sights and smells you might remember from the 80’s. From small home-like environments to rather lavish options with five-star dining and service, skilled-nursing facilities and nursing homes are not all created equal. With a resource like Senior Care Finder, you can now search and compare real, transparent information to help you find the best nursing home.

Here are 5 simple steps on how to find the best nursing home near you.

Determine your care needs: The first step is to determine the level of care you might need. Do you just need help with a few daily activities such as cooking and cleaning? Or will you require a nurse to help with clinical needs such as wound care, medication oversight and management, or support for more than half the day? Review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to determine what level of care is right for you.

Search for a nursing home near you: Once you have decided that a nursing home is right for you, it is best to complete a search for nursing homes in your area. You can search by city, state, and/or zip code to help narrow your results.

Compare nursing homes: From there, you can compare up to three living communities, and review their quality ratings, staffing ratings, and health inspection details. The compare feature allows you to see side-by-side comparisons, along with photos, video tours, and floor plans. Quality ratings are provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and are updated regularly. We recommend reviewing these closely, however, it should not replace calling each living community directly. We encourage you to connect with a few nursing homes and to use Medicare’s nursing home checklist to know exactly what to ask. You will learn a lot from each community’s responsiveness and willingness to help. If a community doesn’t have exceptional customer service and isn’t responsive now, they probably won’t be once you move in.

Take a tour of your top picks: After you have identified a nursing home that’s right for you, go for an in-person or virtual tour. You will want to be absolutely sure it’s the right place for you. Take along notes from your previous conversation, as well as the checklist and clarify any final questions you might have.

Choose the best nursing home for you: You may always feel like you just need more information to make your decision. However, if you need significant clinical support, it is best to get the help you need and deserve. You’ve done your homework and it’s the right choice!

Corner rooms and granite countertops might be at the top of your list of requirements, but we recommend digging deeper to find the best nursing home for you. Senior Care Finder is the only online resource that allows you to search, compare, and find the best nursing home care. Complete an advanced search for nursing homes/long-term care options in your area, and utilize the ‘Compare’ feature to review the CMS star ratings, staffing and health inspection ratings, and more. Once you have narrowed down your search, we empower you to contact the provider directly for a visit or tour before making your choice.

Still need additional help to understand the differences in senior living communities or services offered? Senior Care Finder experts are ready and willing to help. Contact us today!

Photo by Peter Kindersley

Photo license