Nursing Home Checklist

 

The thought of placing a loved one in a nursing home does not often occur without reservations about the type of care your loved one would receive. If you have decided to place your elderly relative in a nursing home or merely want to tour some homes to determine your options, this nursing home checklist will provide you with some of the questions that will assist you in finding the best care facilities for your relative. You can also download the nursing home checklist for future use.

While (or after) visiting each potential nursing home, consider the following questions:

Yes No Is the home Medicare-certified? ____ ____ Is the home Medicaid-certified? ____ ____ Is the home currently accepting new patients? ____ ____

Is there a waiting list?       How long? __________________

____ ____ Is the home licensed by the state? ____ ____ Is the home's administrator licensed? ____ ____ Does the home conduct background checks on all staff? ____ ____ Does the home offer abuse-prevention and other special training? ____ ____ Is the interaction between the staff and patients cordial and respectful? ____ ____

Are residents allowed to make choices about their daily routine?      (e.g., when to get up, go to bed, or eat?)

____ ____ May the residents choose from a variety of activities? ____ ____ Is it easy for friends and family to visit the home? ____ ____ Does the home look and smell clean? ____ ____ Is the home well-lighted? ____ ____ Is the home maintained at a comfortable temperature? ____ ____ Are the residents allowed to have personal furnishings in their rooms? ____ ____ Do the residents' rooms have comfortable furniture? ____ ____ Are there drawers and closets for the residents' clothing? ____ ____ Are there pull-curtains around the residents' beds for privacy? ____ ____ Do the public areas have comfortable furnishings? ____ ____ Is the dining room clean, quiet, and cheerful? ____ ____ Does the home have outdoor areas for the residents' use? ____ ____ Are residents encouraged to go outside? ____ ____ Are the residents clean, appropriately dressed, and well groomed? ____ ____ Does the staff respond quickly to calls for help? ____ ____ Does there appear to be a good relationship between the staff and the administrator? ____ ____ Do the residents have the same caregivers on a regular basis? ____ ____ Is there enough staff on duty at all times, including nights, weekends, and holidays? ____ ____ Is a hospital nearby in case of emergencies? ____ ____ Are care plan meetings held at times convenient to the residents and their families? ____ ____ Is there enough staff to help the residents eat? ____ ____ Are the residents offered food choices at each meal? ____ ____ Does the food look and smell appetizing? ____ ____ Does the staff regularly monitor the residents' weight? ____ ____ Is drinking water readily available? ____ ____ Does the staff encourage and help the residents to drink? ____ ____ Are nutritious snacks available throughout the day? ____ ____ Are there handrails in the halls? ____ ____ Are there grab bars and call buttons in the bathrooms? ____ ____ Are exits clearly marked? ____ ____ Are spills quickly cleaned up? ____ ____ Are halls well lighted and free of clutter? ____ ____ Are there adequate smoke detectors and a sprinkler system? ____ ____ Is there a high turnover among staff? ____ ____ Is most of the care provided by medically trained staff? ____ ____ May the residents continue to be treated by their personal physicians? ____ ____ How is regular medical attention assured? ____ ____

Are other medical services available?       (e.g., optometric, dental, etc.?

____ ____ Is there a pharmacist on the staff? ____ ____ Is there a physical therapist on the staff? ____ ____ Is there an occupational therapist on the staff? ____ ____ Is there a social worker available to residents and their families? ____ ____ Are barbers and beauticians available? ____ ____ How are disputes resolved? ____ ____ How does the home match roommates? ____ ____ Are single rooms available? ____ ____ Are religious services available? ____ ____ Would I be comfortable leaving my loved one in this home? ____ ____ Is the location convenient for family visits? ____ ____ Has a state agency found an unusual number of violations at this home? ____ ____ Have residents or their families filed a lot of complaints? ____ ____ Are other residents and their families happy with the care at the home? ____ ____ Is the cost reasonable in comparison to other homes? ____ ____

Get a Legal Review of Your Potential Injury Claim

This checklist is intended to help you avoid problematic nursing homes in the first place, but negligence or even wilfull abuse can happen anywhere. If you or a loved one has been injured at a nursing home through the wilfull disregard or negligence of the staff, then you may have a valid claim for damages. Get a legal review of your situation today.