by Staff

The California population continues to evolve. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, California residents over 65 are among the fastest-growing demographic. By 2030, they are expected to make up a quarter of the state’s population, and with that will emerge new healthcare needs, including access to nursing homes.

There are currently more than 1,200 licensed nursing facilities within California. With so many options, knowing where to start or what factors you should weigh into your decision can be challenging.

In this guide, we’ll share four tips for choosing a California nursing home and red flags to avoid in each category.

1. Review the Ratings

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the California Department of Public Health help regulate California nursing homes and conduct routine evaluations to help ensure the facilities are operating according to standards.

They review health and safety standards, health inspection reports, citations, and resident surveys. These reports and ratings are publicly available on the Medicare website, and you can review the results in detail. You can also see any penalties they have received, abuse cases, and more. Sort the nursing homes by rating to quickly identify the best and worst California nursing homes at a glance.

The CMS reviews determine if the facility meets federal funding requirements; however, you can also check local Google ratings, social media reviews, and more to get a comprehensive view of the nursing home.
A significant difference in ratings can be cause for pause. Some nursing homes may inflate their public ratings to distract from their official CMS ones.

2. Visit the Nursing Home

The best way to see if you like a nursing home is to experience it in person, and you’ll want to make two visits. The first visit can be a scheduled tour. Reach out to the facility for more information and express your interest. This tour will be the official nursing home face they want the public to see. They will be on their best behavior.

Then, stop by unannounced. This will help you see what it’s like at the facility when they think no one is watching. Take note of the cleanliness, resident treatment, staffing, and more. Ask if you can taste the food and review the social programming schedule. You may even be able to experience a game night or other activity first-hand.

If the nursing home passes inspection for both visits, that’s a great sign. If the experience is markedly different when they weren’t expecting you, that can be a red flag for the day-to-day quality of care.

3. Ask Questions

Don’t be afraid to ask the nursing home questions to help you better understand the facility and what it can offer you or your loved ones. Sample questions you can consider include:

a. What is the average staff-to-patient ratio?
b. What is the average employee tenure?
c. What certifications and accreditations does your nursing home carry?
d. What are your current CMS ratings?
e. What education, certification, and specialized training does your staff have?
f. What are the visiting hours?
g. Are there limitations in the types and number of guests?
h. What recreational activities are available?
j. How do you address a patient’s dietary restrictions?
k. Do patients have access to doctors and other routine care?

Ultimately, the more questions you ask, the more peace of mind you will have. It’s the best way to ensure your loved one receives the best care.

It’s not a good sign if the nursing home declines to answer questions or cannot provide adequate answers. They may be trying to hide something or do not respect the family’s involvement in their loved one’s care. Either of these scenarios can be a red flag during your search.

4. Trust Your Gut

If something doesn’t feel right, then it probably isn’t right. Trust your intuition. Sometimes, you can feel something wrong even if you don’t understand why. If you want a second opinion, ask your friends, family, and coworkers if they have any experience with the facility.

If the nursing home is for your loved one, ask them how they feel about the facility. Ultimately, you want them to be happy and comfortable with the care they are receiving. If they feel something is off, don’t dismiss it. You don’t have to commit to a nursing home just because you visited it.

There are plenty of care options in California, and if you change your mind, you can always remove your loved one from care. Don’t overlook the feeling of a red flag. Sometimes, that’s enough.

What’s Next – Nursing Home Care in California

The CMS makes it easy to identify California’s best and worst nursing homes. The facility list and rankings are beneficial as you explore potential nursing homes.

When possible, visit the nursing home in person and ask questions. Let yourself feel if the nursing home is right for you, and trust your gut. When you follow the steps in this guide, you’ll make the right care choice for you and your family.

Paid Post