Step 1 - Building a Network

Before you begin searching for a nursing home, it is a good idea to put together a network of people who can help you make the right choice. This team should include the fancily and friends who are important to you. It should also include the doctors and health professionals who understand your needs. Clergy And social workers may also be valuable network members. Consult with your network. Family and friends may be willing to share responsibilities and should be treated as partners. Remember that two heads are better than one, and many heads are better than two. If you are helping to select a nursing home for a relative, make every effort to involve your relative in the selection process. If your relative is mentally alert, it is essential that his or her wishes be respected. People who are involved in the selection process are better prepared when the time comes to move into a nursing home. Finding a nursing home that provides the right services for you in a pleasant, comfortable environment atmosphere often requires research. Ideally, you will have ample time to plan ahead, examine several nursing homes, and make the appropriate financial plans. By planning ahead, you will have more control over the selection process, more time to gather good information, and more time to make certain that everyone in your network is comfortable with the ultimate choice. Planning ahead is the best way to ease the stress that accompanies choosing a nursing home, and helps assure that you will make a good choice. 

Unfortunately, a great many people must select a nursing home with little notice -- frequently during a family crisis or right after a serious illness or operation. If you are in this situation, this booklet should still be helpful. Though you may not be able to follow all of the steps in the upcoming pages, by reading this booklet you will gain valuable information about nursing homes, learn about the people who might be able to help you, and pick up some tips about what to look for in a nursing home.