Your mom and dad may have been doing quite well living on their own. Each may have been adequately covering up the other’s deficits. But then something happened to upset their apple cart.
It might have been a fall (hopefully not a hip), but it could also have been an untreated UTI or an illness that goes septic. Suddenly, you realize that you must find them a place with a higher level of care.
How to make the best choice?
If you are doing this long distance, it can be quite difficult to find a safe, well-rated facility. Many of those ratings are self-generated by the facilities themselves. Delve deeper, but that can be a good starting point.
If you are within driving distance, plan impromptu visits to several to observe the residents and staff, and the interaction between them. That can tell you a lot about the care your own loved one might receive.
Just because you found one doesn’t mean it can take your relative
The best nursing homes and rehab facilities have few vacancies and some even have waiting lists. See if you can find something in each of your top three rated facilities.
Consider the needs of couples
If your adult parents need different levels of care, it can be frustrating to find a happy medium. The spouse of an Alzheimer’s patient who wanders may not be able to cope with the restrictions of a locked unit. The nursing home should also be able to accommodate the levels of care that their most dependent residents require.
If you suspect abuse
No patient should ever experience abuse or neglect from their caregivers. If you suspect that your loved one has been abused, it is up to you to alert the authorities, so the patient is no longer at-risk.
