The decision to place a loved one with Alzheimer's disease into a Southern California nursing home is a difficult decision. However, you may feel more comfortable about the decision if you've done your homework to research nursing homes in California, and you've visited the nursing home yourself. Here are a few tips to help you determine which Southern California nursing home is best for your loved elder with Alzheimer's disease. *Schedule a complete physical and mental evaluation for your loved elder. Engage your physician in an open dialog to determine whether your loved elder needs to be placed in a nursing home. Be as forthcoming and honest as possible with the doctors, in order to receive the best medical advice possible. *Take care and time to find a California Nursing Home qualified to care for your loved elder. You may want to include in your research, visits to websites such as www.SeniorHomes.com, www.LongTermCareLink.net, www.Medicare.gov/NHCompare, www.SoCalSeniors.com, www.aPlaceForMom.com, and www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare. *Visit the facility more than once. Schedule an appointment to visit the nursing home. If your first impression is favorable, pay another, but unscheduled visit. *Ask about services (if any) provided for Alzheimer's patients specifically. Sample questions may include: • What policies are used to alert family members to an incident involving their loved one with Alzheimer's disease? • What policies and practices are in place to ensure that the elder is eating properly? • Does the staff have specialized training in caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease? • How does the staff ensure that residents of the nursing home do not wander away? These tips are merely suggestions for ways you can be proactive in your search for a Southern California nursing home for your loved elder with Alzheimer's disease. By conducting thorough research into multiple Southern California nursing homes, you'll be far more likely to find a residence where you feel comfortable that your loved ones' best interests are at heart. By looking into the staff and services provided for elders with Alzheimer's disease you will be able to weed out facilities that definitely don't meet your needs, and find one that will. Christopher C. Walton is an award winning San Diego, California based elder abuse attorney who specializes in advocacy for elders. If you suspect that someone you love is being abused while in a long term facility, report it to your local authorities immediately. You may also decide to contact an attorney. Chris Walton can be reached at (866) 338-7079, or email at cwalton@waltonlawapc.com to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
Tips for Choosing a Southern California Nursing Home for A Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease