FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I start?
You can start with the official US Government site for people with Medicare where you will be directed to a number of sources of information, including a guide to choosing a nursing home:
⇒ Medicare: Nursing Home

What should I look for when visiting a nursing home?
There are a number of categories of information to consider such as staff, cleanliness, rooms, food, activities, etc. Medicare provides a comprehensive Nursing Home Checklist for you to print out at this site:
⇒ Medicare: Nursing Home Checklist

How do I check on a nursing home's list of violations?
You can compare nursing homes in your area by logging on to the Medicare site, as follows:
⇒ Medicare: Nursing Home Violations

Are some nursing homes better than others for people with specific problems?
Like making other major choices in our lives, personal needs and wants and desires often dictate the choices. Generally, nursing homes are permanent residences for people who are too frail or sick to live at home or as a temporary facility during a recovering period. If your loved one would prefer to remain in their own home with care, Medicare offers limited access to Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and Social Managed Care Plan. Keep in mind that before deciding what to do and where to go, one should talk to a doctor or maybe a social worker about your care needs, the amount of responsibility and work involved. You can learn more information on this site:
⇒ Medicare: Nursing Home Alternatives

Is my loved one eligible for Medicare?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administers Medicare, the nation's largest health insurance program, for people age 65 or older, some disabled people under age 65, and people of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure treated with dialysis or a transplant). To obtain information about Medicare eligibility and enrollment, go to
⇒ Medicare: Nursing Eligibility

Who pays for care?
This comprehensive site provides information on the various programs available to pay for care:
⇒ Medicare: Nursing Payment

What are things to consider when a loved one is transferred from a hospital to a nursing home?
Read the following comprehensive article to hear from someone who went through this. [When the Hospital Says 'So Long' - By Maggie Jones. Published May 13, 2009, The New York Times]
⇒ New York Times Website

When do I begin to research?
If you are reading the information on this website you probably are doing so because a family member is in need. Begin to research available options now while you have the time. You have the right to ask questions, get information, make informed decisions. The Medicare website is a good place to start researching nursing homes. It provides checklists for evaluating nursing homes and allows consumers to view results from state inspection reports of facilities. There are other Internet resources for discharge planning, and one of the best is United Hospital Fund's Next Step in Care. The resource provides, in both English and Spanish, checklists for discharge, including questions to ask the hospital staff and questions for family caregivers to ask themselves to prepare for the transition.