Determining which nursing home can best serve the needs of an elderly loved one is an important, yet daunting task. Such a decision can be problematic because of the difficulty families can have when assessing which nursing home or elder care facility is best equipped to serve the needs of their loved ones. Below are a list of helpful tips that can aide you and your family in the difficult process of finding the right elder care facility for a loved one.

• In general, look for a clean, well-run facility that is licensed by the state and is Medicare and Medicaid certified.

• Ask to see the facility’s most recent state-required survey, which would indicate any potential deficiencies. Caregivers also can access http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare to learn more about how facilities in their area compare and rank in terms of quality.

• Find out what levels of care the facility offers and what services are covered by insurance.

• Make sure that the facility meets the needs of your loved one—and you. It is important to keep in mind that the needs of a loved one may change over time, so find a facility that will be capable of accommodating your loved one’s current and future needs.

• If possible, take the loved one with you when evaluating facilities. Listen carefully to their opinions after visiting each facility.

• Talk to current facility residents and their family members. This is the best way to get insight about the particular facility. Also, ask your physician about her/his preference regarding facilities in your area.

• Set up an appointment with the director or nursing home administrator and ask many questions. (Examples of questions to ask: How long has the facility been in operation? How does it protect residents’ rights? What safety features does it offer? Can it provide you with references from physicians and residents? Is a patient assessment conducted prior to admission?)

• Visit each facility you are interested in twice—once at an appointed time and once unannounced.

Cost also is an issue that most families must consider when evaluating facilities. While the cost of a facility depends upon its location and the level of care a resident requires, the average cost of a nursing home in the United States is about $75,000 a year. However, cost varies dramatically according to where you live and can be significantly higher in some areas of the country.

Berman & Riedel, LLP, is a nursing home abuse and neglect law firm located in San Diego, California. The nursing home attorneys at Berman & Riedel, LLP, have extensive litigation experience in handling a variety of the most serious and complex elder abuse claims involoving nursing homes and other elderly care facilities located throughout the State of California. Over the past 12 years, the firm has handled some of the state’s most complex and serious nursing home abuse cases and has built a reputation for constantly achieving tremendous results in the cases it handles. The accomplishments of the firm have garnered much media attention. To contact a nursing home elder abuse attorney at Berman & Riedel, LLP, you can contact the firm by e-mail or call the firm anytime at (858) 350-8855.  Initial consultations are free of charge and the attorneys at the firm are happy to answer any questions you may have.