How to Find Verified Reviews of Assisted Living Facilities
Choosing an assisted living facility can be a stressful and overwhelming process. Whether it’s a parent, extended family member, or a close friend, it’s important the person you love is well taken care of. With proper research, you’re able to provide them with the utmost care and highest quality of life.
In this guide, we’ve outlined the best way to research nursing homes and assisted living facilities to ensure your loved ones have every opportunity to live out the rest of their days happy and well taken care of.
Compare Nursing Homes
Any nursing home and assisted living facility that’s medicare or medicaid certified is registered on the medicare website. Here you can find and compare providers near you based on verified reviews. There are approximately 16,000 nursing homes nationwide that are medicaid or medicare certified, providing you with a variety of nursing homes to choose from in your area.
Each of the nursing homes listed on this website are rated based on a five-star rating system, which follows quality measures—discussed in further detail below.
Five-Star Nursing Home Quality Rating System
In December of 2008, a nursing home quality rating system was put into place on the CMS website to assist families in choosing a nursing home that is suitable for their loved one. This quality rating system rates the quality of care provided by a nursing home from below average to above average. Each nursing home is given four individualized star ratings from one to five stars. These ratings are based on the following criteria:
- Overall rating
- Health inspection results
- Staffing levels
- Quality measure data of resident care
These quality measures provide you with an overview of how an assisted living facility performs and operates from a professional standpoint. Though this is a great starting point when considering different living facilities, you shouldn’t rely on this method entirely. Quality measures are each weighted differently, so where a facility may seem beneficial to your circumstance, it may lack in other areas that remain important to you.
When in Doubt, Take a Visit
After you’ve weighed all your options based on reviews and research, it’s important to see the assisted living facility first-hand. Choose your top three to five places and schedule a visit. In doing so, you’ll be able to take into account variables that may not have been mentioned online. In addition, you can use what you’ve learned to initiate further conversation with potential nursing homes. From the staff’s demeanor and the appearance of the residents to the cleanliness and functionality of the facility itself, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision.
When visiting, observe the following closely to ensure your loved one is in the proper hands:
- Staff demeanor and bedside manner
- Resident’s appearance
- Cleanliness
- Logical floor plan
- Staffing issues (short-staffed)
- Meal plans
- Proper safety measures
- Amenities
Assisted Living with CarePatrol
At CarePatrol, we care for you and your loved ones. It’s our job to make sure you choose the right senior care option—bringing all involved peace of mind. Allow us to be your trusted guide in this difficult process. Our team is here to help you find the best community for your loved one, one step at a time.
CarePatrol: Your Partner in Senior Care Solutions
At CarePatrol, we’re dedicated to helping families find the best home for their loved ones’ needs. All of our Senior Care Advisor services are absolutely free—we provide needs assessments, guided community tours, moving day & transition support, and so much more. Contact us to get started finding CarePatrol services in your area today!