At Touchstone, we want to help you find excellent care and a warm, welcoming home, not just a well-decorated community. So we’re offering you a “for-instance” checklist. This list will help you compare one home with another. Remember, different kinds of homes offer different types of services. So be sure to compare similar type homes with one another. Nursing facilities may be licensed in more than one category. Always consider the higher category when comparing one facility with another.
Home A _____________________________________
Home B _____________________________________
Home C _____________________________________
Does the community feel like a happy home?
Is the general atmosphere warm, pleasant and cheerful? Does it feel happy and warm?
Is the administrator courteous and helpful?
When making rounds with the administrator, does he/she interact with residents?
Does the administrator know the residents and their families as he or she shows you the community?
Does the administrator introduce you to staff members?
Are staff members cheerful, courteous and enthusiastic?
Do staff members show genuine interest in and affection for the residents?
Do staff members interact with the residents?
Are residents laughing and interacting with the staff?
Do you see residents up and down the hall, in the dinning room, living room, or about the community?
Do the residents look well cared for and generally content?
Are residents allowed to wear their own clothes, decorate their rooms and keep a few prized possessions on hand?
How are the residents’ valuables and money handled?
How is the laundry for each resident managed?
Is there a place for private visits with family and friends?
Do residents, visitors and volunteers speak favorably about the home?
Is the home near family and friends?
Does the home have a current license from the state?
If the person needs and is eligible for financial benefits through the Medicare or Medicaid, is the home certified to participate in those programs?
Does the home provide the special services the resident needs?
Do they provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s Disease patients, if needed?
Is there a written statement of residents' rights?
As far as you can tell, are these rights being carried out?
Is the nursing home clean and orderly?
Is the home reasonably free of unpleasant odors?
Are the bathrooms easy for disabled patients to use?
Is the home well lit?
Are rooms well-ventilated and kept at a comfortable temperature?
Are wheelchair ramps provided where necessary?
Is the nursing home free of obvious hazards?
Are there grab bars in toilet and bathing facilities and handrails on both sides of hallways?
Do bathtubs and showers have non-slip surfaces?
Are there smoke detectors, an automatic sprinkler system and portable fire extinguishers?
Is there automatic emergency lighting?
Are exits clearly marked and exit signs illuminated?
Are exit doors unobstructed and unlocked from inside?
Are certain areas posted with no smoking signs?
Do staff, residents and visitors observe them?
Is an emergency evacuation plan posted in prominent locations?
Does the home have an arrangement with an outside dental service to provide residents with oral health care when necessary?
In case of medical emergencies, is a physician available at all times, either on staff or on call?
Does the home have arrangements with a nearby hospital for quick transfer in an emergency?
Is emergency transportation readily available?
Is there an emergency number where you can reach the administrator or Director of Nursing in an emergency?
Does a qualified pharmacist supervise pharmaceutical services?
Is a room set aside for storing and preparing drugs?
Does a qualified pharmacist maintain and monitor a record of each resident's drug therapy?
Is at least one registered nurse (RN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN) on duty day and night?
Is a nurse on duty during the day, seven days a week for skilled nursing homes?
Does an RN serve as director of nursing services for skilled nursing homes?
Are nurse or emergency call buttons located at each resident's bed and in bathrooms?
Is the kitchen clean and reasonably tidy?
Ask to see the meal schedule. Are there at least three meals served each day?
Are meals served at normal hours, with plenty of time for leisurely eating?
Are nutritious between-meal and bedtime snacks available?
Are residents given enough food?
Does the meal being served match the posted menu?
Are special meals prepared for residents who require therapeutic diets?
Is the dining room attractive and comfortable?
Do residents who need help in eating, whether in the dining room or in their own rooms, get it?
Is a full-time program of physical therapy available for residents who need it?
Are occupational therapy and speech therapy available for residents who need them?
Are there social services available to aid residents and their families?
Does the nursing home have a varied program of recreational, cultural and intellectual activities for residents?
Is there an activities coordinator on staff?
Is suitable space available for resident activities?
Are activities offered for residents who are relatively inactive or confined to their rooms?
Are activities provided each day? Are some activities scheduled in the evenings?
Do residents have an opportunity to attend religious services and talk with their clergymen, both in and outside the home?
Does each room open onto a hallway?
Does each room have a window to the outside?
Does each resident have a reading light, a comfortable chair, and closet space and drawers for personal belongings?
Is there fresh drinking water within reach?
Is there a curtain or screen available to provide privacy for each bed whenever necessary?
Do bathrooms have adequate privacy?
Is there a lounge where residents can chat, read, play games, watch television or just relax away from their rooms?
Is a public telephone available for residents' use?
Does the nursing home have an outdoor area offering fresh air and sunshine?
Do the estimated monthly costs (including extra charges) compare favorably with those of other homes?
Is a refund made for unused days paid for in advance?
Are visiting hours convenient for residents and visitors?
Are these and other important matters specified in the contract?
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