| Questions to Ask: |
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| Does the nursing home have a current state license on display? |
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| Does the administrator have an up-to-date state license? |
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| Does the nursing home have a history of serious violations? (Check with your state ombudsman or ask the home for a copy of its latest survey report.) |
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| Is the nursing home certified for Medicare or Medicaid? (Even if these programs are not important to you now, they may be in the future.) |
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| Do residents seem happy? |
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| Is the location convenient to family and friends? |
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| Is the location convenient to the patient's physician? |
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| Is it near a hospital? |
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| Is a Patients' Bill of Rights posted in plain sight? |
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Are there handrails in the hallways, grab bars in bathrooms and other features aimed at accident prevention?
Are toilet facilities raised and doors designed to accommodate residents in wheelchairs?
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| Are wheelchair ramps provided indoors as well as outdoors? |
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| Are hallways wide enough to permit two wheelchairs to pass with ease? |
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| Are there clearly marked exits and unobstructed paths to these exits? |
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| Are there fire extinguishers, automatic sprinklers and smoke detectors throughout? Are they checked annually? Have they recently been checked? |
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| Is there emergency lighting in rooms and halls? |
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| Is the furniture sturdy? |
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| Is a physician available at all times for emergencies? |
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| Is there security to prevent confused residents from wandering away from the building? |
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| Is the nursing home clean, well maintained and odor-free? |
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| Is a licensed dietitian on the premises often enough to provide adequate supervision of planning and preparation of meals? (Ask to see the kitchen area in order to observe cleanliness.) |
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| Is a weekly menu plan available? Are the meals nutritious and tasty? |
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| Does the staff assist residents who have difficulty feeding themselves? |
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| Is the staff friendly, available, caring and accommodating to residents and visitors? |
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| Is there an activity room where residents can read, do crafts, play games or socialize? |
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| Are physical therapy and rehabilitative services available? |
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| Is a list of references available? |
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| Would this nursing home provide the best possible care for your loved one? |
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