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homes you are interested in by clicking the boxes to
the left of their name. Click “Next Step” again. You
will find detailed information comparing staffing,
the number of deficiencies received in the last state
inspection and percentages of quality measures.
3. Before you make a decision, visit the nursing homes
you are interested in or have someone visit for you.
A visit gives you the chance to see the residents, staff
and facility. It also allows you to talk with the nursing
home staff, with people who live and get care at the
nursing home and with family members. Before you
visit, be sure to call the nursing home office to make
an appointment to tour the nursing home. If you, a
family member or friend can’t visit the nursing home,
you can call for information.
4. Choose the nursing home that best meets your
needs. When you have all the information about the
nursing homes you are interested in, discuss it with
your family, friends, doctor, clergy, spiritual advisor or
social worker. Talk with people who understand your
personal and health care needs.
Be Satisfied With Your Choice: If you visit a nursing
home and you do not like it, you do not have to choose
to go there. Making a good choice for quality care is
important. If you are in a hospital, talk to the hospital
discharge planner or your doctor before you decide to go
to an available nursing home that you do not like. They
may be able to help you find a more suitable nursing
home, or arrange for other care until a bed is available at
a nursing home you do like. However, you may be billed
for additional days you stay in the hospital while waiting
for another nursing home.
Moving is difficult, so try not to move more than once.
However, an extra move may be better for you than
choosing to go to a facility that is not right for you. Be
sure to explain to your doctor or discharge planner why
you are not happy with the facility being offered.
If you are helping someone who plans to go into a
nursing home, get them involved in making the decision
as much as possible. People who are involved from the
beginning are better prepared when they move into a
nursing home. If the person you are helping is not alert
or able to communicate well, keep his or her values and
preferences in mind. Finding a nursing home that has the
right services and a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere,
often requires a lot of planning.
Paying and Other Costs: Care in a nursing home can
be very expensive. Nursing homes usually provide 24-
hour medical care as well as room, meals, activities and
personal care. Most nursing homes charge a basic fee for
room, meals and personal care. You may have to pay extra
for other services or care for special medical needs. It is
important to get a list of fees in advance and discuss these
costs and how you will pay for them.
Medicare generally does not cover custodial care (help
with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing and
using the bathroom), but may temporarily cover some
skilled nursing and rehabilitative care. Most people who
enter a nursing home begin paying for their nursing home
care out of their own pocket. Residents may pay for their
nursing home stay using their personal resources, longterm
care insurance or with Medicaid if they are eligible.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps
with medical costs for people with low income and
limited resources. Medicaid pays for care for about seven
out of every 10 nursing home residents.
The New Five-Star Quality Rating
System for Nursing Homes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services (CMS)
has improved information on the Nursing Home
Compare website to help individuals, family members,
caregivers and the public find and compare the quality
of nursing homes more easily. Visit www.medicare.gov/
NHCompare for more information.
The Nursing Home Compare website now features a
system that assigns each nursing home a rating between
one and five stars. Nursing homes with five stars are
considered to have above average quality compared to
other nursing homes in the state. Nursing homes with
one star have quality much below average in the state,
but the nursing home still meets Medicare’s minimum
requirements.
To assist you in your search for the right nursing home
for you or your loved one, please see the “Choosing the
Right Nursing Home” checklist on page 74.
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