Making the decision to place a loved one in a nursing home isn’t one made easily. You have to take many factors and circumstances into account before making a commitment to a Hawaii-based extended care facility.

According to recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nursing homes are responsible for the care to over 1.4 million people. With a population that is growing, this number is expected to increase as Baby Boomers enter retirements.

The Basics of Nursing Home Care

Most nursing homes are designed to give residents there with a room, meals, nursing, rehabilitation care, as well as provide medical services and general supervision of all residents. Nursing homes differ from basic hospital care in the fact that they support residents to help them retain their independence while having access to skilled medical staff who can assist in the case of an emergency.

Selecting the Care Facility

When you decide the time has come to place your loved one in an assisted living facility, one of the first things you’ll want to do is compile as much information as possible to present to the admissions representative. If your loved one is getting discharged from the hospital,
many times the hospital personnel, a social worker, or a discharge planner can help you with the information you need to make the transition a streamlined process.

If your loved one is getting shifted from a residence to the nursing facility, it is always a good idea to get referrals from trusted individuals such as the physician, physical therapist, or a friend of confidence who has experience in this subject.

Other factors to take into consideration include the monthly costs, the quality of care provided, the cleanliness of the facility, any recognitions the facility received, and other accommodations or amenities that make the nursing home an ideal fit you and your loved ones needs.

Take A Tour

By touring a few difference nursing homes before making a commitment to one, you have the opportunity to inspect the building and observe how the current residents there are being treated. Don’t be afraid to ask what the patient to nurse ratio is. If each nurse has a high number of patients, this could mean that they are understaffed or that the nurses carry a heavy workload to provide care to the patients.

Once you’ve made the decision on the Hawaii-based nursing facility home that’s right for your family member, always be sure to read the contract, so you understand all the details of the agreement to avoid confusion or problems later.