Where To Find Care's Tips for conducting a nursing home tour

Ready to personally tour your narrow list of nursing homes? Nothing can substitute for an "in-person" experience. You can use all of your senses to gather more information firsthand helping you make the right decision for your family member. Contact the nursing home and set up an appointment. Now it's time to gather your questions. To get you started, use the list below:

1.How accessible is the nursing home?   Does it have plenty of parking for visitors?   What are the visiting hours?   Is there a common phone for the residents to use?  Or do residents need their own personal phone?


2.Examine the nursing home with all your senses. How do the residents appear, what condition is the furniture in, what types of safety equipment do they have, how noisy is the nursing home, are there any odors?


3.Inquire about dietary. What types of meals are served? Snacks? Specialty diets?


4.Inquire about fees they charge. What are the basic fees? Are there any special fees? What insurances do they accepted?


5.Inquire about the activities program. Ask to see the activity schedule for the past 6 months. Do they support outings?


6.Ask to see the latest inspection report. If any corrections needed to be made, ask if they have been made and what was done to correct them.


7.Interview patients, family, and staff. Ask how satisfied they are with the nursing home. Inquire about staffing. How many doctors, nurses, certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are on staff? Does staffing change on weekends? After hours? Holidays?


8.Inquire about languages. Communication with a patient is important. Ask what the primary spoken language is and if any other languages can be accommodated, for example sign language.

9. Inquire about religious support. Do area churches visit the nursing home?

10.Ask questions. If you see something unusual, don’t be afraid to ask questions. It may help to explain nursing home policies

11.If you have any questions after the tour is done, contact the nursing home.

12.Don’t be afraid to ask to tour the nursing home again. This is a very important decision. It’s always good to go back on another day or during a different time to see if anything has changed.

13.Inquire about the services they offer. Do they specialize in any illness? If yes, what makes their program different from other nursing homes?

If you have a good question to add to this list be sure to tell us.You can print this list and take you as well. We left plenty of room so you can write your notes. Remember, all questions are good questions so be sure to ask them.

Medicare also offer a nursing home checklist. You can check it out here.

Looking for a Nursing Home: Quality Measures help you find quality nursing home care

Think you have a lot of time to choose a nursing home for your parent? Think again. Typically an admission to a skilled nursing home occurs after a stay of at least three days in the hospital had an stroke, injurious event, surgery, or even an illness. You are usually given a short amount of time to select where your loved one will go and admissions tours will only give you the very positive about their facility.

That's why WhereToFindCare.com provides valuable quality information on most skilled nursing homes. It allows you to review area nursing homes based on their adherence to Medicare Quality Measures such as bed sore and uti rates, very important to know especially in the elderly population.

The measures are:

• Patients who have pressure sores
• Patients who are more depressed or anxious
• Patients with an urinary tract infection
• Patients who had a catheter inserted and left in their bladder
• Low risk patients who lose control of their bowels or bladder
• Patients who lost too much weight--more than 5% of body weight in a month
• Patients who spend most of their time in a bed or chair
• Patients who were physically restrained
• Patients whose ability to move around the room got worse
• Patients whose need help with daily activities has increased--daily activities include feeding oneself, moving from one chair to another, changing positions while in bed and going to the bathroom alone
• Patients who had moderate to severe pain
• Patient with Delirium
• Influenza and Pneumococcal vaccination rates

Over the next several weeks we will be reviewing each indicator to give you an understanding of why it's important to know.

Get to know your area nursing homes. Start your search here now. Click here and enter your zip. Select a specific nursing home by clicking on their name and review their quality tab.

Mom dies after neglect from hospitals

This story is SURREAL A woman, Anna Brown, went to several emergency rooms in the Saint Louis area complaining of leg pain seeking treatment for what she thought was a sprained ankle. At the third hospital she sought treatment at, police officers arrested her because she refused to leave. A doctor did state she was "fit for confinement" So the police transported her to jail.

The 29 year old Anna has Medicaid. (Minnesota Medicaid does cover Emergency Visits- see this link). She died 15 minutes after physically being carried by officers into her jail cell and placed on the floor. If you watch the video, it actually looks like her right leg was bent. She died in agony.

The spokesperson at St. Mary's said that “Unfortunately, even with appropriate testing using sophisticated technology, blood clots can still be undetected in a small number of cases.” I am interested in knowing what tests they did to rule out DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis which did lead to the pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung) that caused her death.

According to information found on Medline, health care providers typically perform a physical exam. The exam may show a red, swollen, or tender leg. Tests such as a Doppler ultrasound exam of the legs, Plethysmography (measurement of blood flow) of the legs or X-rays to show veins in the affected area(venography)may be done. Blood tests may be done to check if there is increased chance of blood clotting (hypercoagulability).

According to information found on clotconnect.org,symptoms may be in the foot, ankle and calf, or involve the whole leg. They occur not just for a few seconds or minutes, but for hours or days. The classic symptoms of an acute DVT are:
•Pain
•Swelling
•Discoloration (bluish, slightly purplish or reddish)

That may the reason she felt that her ankle was sprained.

The hospital spokesperson also said "The sad reality is that emergency departments across the country are often a place of last resort for many people in our society who suffer from complex social problems that become medical issues when they are not addressed. It is unfortunate that it takes a tragic event like this to call attention to a crisis in our midst.”

She had ultrasounds in both legs that were negative. But how can that be?

Here is the video from the ER lobby, the arrest, and her death.

A comment from one police man to the other at the end said that the hospital thought she was drug seeking and that she didn't have any problems.

The family has hired a lawyer, although not filed a lawsuit as of today.

A Michigan attorney experienced in malpractice, Stephen Fosmire, says Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services "must have seen there was enough … medical testing to satisfy the federal law," Fosmire said. Federal law does not require accurate treatment, he noted.

Looking for a Care Star? We make it easy!

Looking for the health care providers who have been recognized for exceeding the expectations of patients and/or their families? The name we gave them: Care Star.

A Care Star is an exceptional healthcare worker who exceeded the expectations of the people they served.

With over 1,000 Care Stars to read about, it can bring a tear to your eye just knowing that so many good people are out there providing exceptional care.

Check out this easy to use search for Care Stars. You can search by state or provider type too!
Take me to the Stars now!

And if you have met a Care Star during your health care experiences, be sure to complete a survey and tell us all about them. We love sharing the good news!

I want to tell you about my Care Star encounter. Take me to the survey.

What is physical therapy?

Physical therapy is a series of treatments ordered by your physician to restore health to patients who have lost mobility due to illness or injury. Treatment provides specific targeted therapy that will include exercises to reduce the patient’s functional limitation and to improve endurance, strength and flexibility. Physical therapists use passive motion machines (which lift the extremity for you), active exercise machines, massage therapy, electrical stimulation and more. Many physical therapy centers also provide occupational and speech therapy.

Patients who have had open heart surgery, hip or knee replacement or a stroke typically benefit from physical therapy. Sports medicine, a growing segment of physical therapy providers, focuses on treatments to prevent or alleviate injuries occurring from exercise or sports.

Patients can receive physical therapy in many settings from clinics to the comfort of their home. A physician will recommend an appropriate setting depending on a patient’s needs and condition.

Looking for a physical therapist near you? Choose your state and press Go:

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

Looking for a Care Star? Take me to the Stars Now

What are some common sleeping disorders?

Some common sleeping disorders are listed below:

1. Insomnia: A condition where a person has trouble falling sleep or staying asleep.
   
2. Sleep apnea: A condition where a person has trouble breathing while they are sleeping, leading to multiple awakenings throughout the night.
   
3. Narcolepsy: A condition where a person feels the uncontrollable need to fall asleep throughout the day.
   
4. Sleepwalking: A condition where a person walks while they are sleeping. More common in children than adults, those who suffer from this condition are known to perform normal daily routines, like dressing or cleaning, while sleeping.
   
5. Restless leg syndrome: A condition where a person fells a tingling sensation in their legs prompting them to want to move their legs in their sleep.

To find a sleep center - choose your state and press Go:

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

What is a sleep clinic?

Sleep centers are facilities that specialize in diagnosing sleep disorders. A sleep disorder is a condition that prevents a person from having normal restful sleep.

Many sleep disorders have similar symptoms so it’s important to see a sleep specialist to determine the root cause. To find the root cause, sleep centers perform a sleep study. A sleep study is where a sleep specialist watches while you sleep, performing tests, and documenting results. Once the root cause is determined, the sleep specialist can recommend a treatment to help you achieve better sleep.

Begin your search by choosing your state and pressing Go:

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

Look for a Care Star? Take me to the Stars now

What is a Geriatric Care Manager?

Geriatric Care Management is defined as services provided to senior citizens to help them deal with everyday problems and crisis intervention.

These services are provided by a geriatric care manager, (GCM), who is generally a social worker, nurse, or another healthcare specialist, who has specialized training in the field of geriatrics. Some GCMs have certification through the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers.

The GCM can provide assessments and services for senior citizens that will allow them to resolve everyday problems and remain in their homes. It is not always possible for the senior citizen to live alone in their home due to safety concerns; the geriatric care manager can assist them in moving, where they can receive adequate services in a comfortable and secure environment.

Choose your state and press Go:

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

Look for a Care Star? Take me to the Stars now.

How To Write A Birth Plan

Having a baby is very special Just like all the planning that went into other big days in your life, you need to write a birth plan. A birth plan is a document that lists your preferences for the birth of your baby. You should write your birth plan early in your pregnancy. You'll need time to discuss it with your doctor. You’ll also need time to tour birthing centers and hospitals around you.

Here are some questions you will want to consider when writing your birth plan:

1. Who do you want in the labor room?
2. The delivery room?
3. Do you want pain medicine?
4. If so, what kind? Is there any medication you want to avoid?
5. Are there any activities you would like for pain relief? Some examples: shower, whirlpool, massage, breathing exercises, relaxation music
6. Do you want a water birth?Do you want to be mobile during labor?
7. Do you want to be able to walk around?
8. Did you want to stay in bed?
9. Are there certain positions you want for the birth?
10. Do you want to record the birth on video?Do you want a guest to stay overnight with you, if needed?
11. Do you want your baby continuous monitored?
12. What activities do you want to occur after the birth?
13. Did you want to breast feed?
14. Do you want the baby to stay with you?

Looking for a birthing center?

Choose your state and press Go:

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

Are you satisfied with health care?

Have you found a health care provider that you just absolutely adore and would like to share it with the world? The good news is you can do it-on WhereToFindCare.com. Whether it's a chiropractor, diabetes education class, or the visit you made to see your neighbor's newest baby, you can share your experience on WhereToFindCare.com.

Share with your neighbors the excellent health care providers in your community. Share them on WhereToFindCare.com.

About WhereToFindCare.com: WhereToFindCare.com supports transparency by providing consumers a no-membership venue to share their experience with others. Providers can also participate in the conversation by responding to comments, again, at no cost. We don’t believe anyone should profit from health care consumers and health care providers talking about improving health care. Visit http://www.wheretofindcare.com/ for more information.