Currently, 9.5 million older Americans spend part or all of their time living in senior care facilities or receiving in-home care. Whether you’re looking for a nursing facility in Phoenix for yourself or an older loved one, choosing the right nursing home begins with understanding your options. Today, individuals needing extra support as they age can choose an assisted living facility in Phoenix, a nursing home (skilled nursing facility), or in-home services.
For those relocating to a nursing facility, it’s crucial to understand the distinctions and the essential factors you should keep in mind when choosing a senior care facility near you.
What Should I Look for When Choosing a Nursing Home in Phoenix?
Different nursing homes provide distinct advantages for different people. When considering what to look for in a nursing home, you must begin with the prospective resident’s needs. A facility with skilled nursing services may be mandatory if you or your loved one is recovering from a stroke or has severe health issues. However, skilled nursing services may be optional if you or your loved one is healthy.
The prospective resident’s wants should also be a top priority. Do they thrive when socializing and want to move to a community that offers multiple daily activities they can enjoy? Do they favor an environment where they can enjoy solitude? Do they have specific hobbies they wish to pursue? If so, they may favor a facility that supports that hobby.
Look for a facility with a great reputation. Talk to friends with family members living in nursing homes and ask for their insights.
You can also review the checklist provided by Medicare to ensure you consider the crucial factors when choosing a nursing home.
How Do I Assess the Quality of Care at a Nursing Home?
Evaluating the quality of care at a nursing home involves reviewing staff qualifications, touring the facility, and asking pertinent questions.
What Qualifications Should Nursing Home Staff Have?
Ariz. Admin. Code § 9-10-412 details the legal requirements for nursing home staff, including oversight from a full-time director working on-site who is a nurse and oversees nursing services at the facility.
There must be one licensed nurse for every 64 residents. Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide personal care as direct care professionals. Other positions may have varying requirements; for example, an activities director may need a degree in therapeutic recreation or a similar discipline, while an activities assistant may have no formal educational requirements.
How Can I Evaluate the Reputation of a Nursing Home?
Steps you can take to determine a nursing home’s reputation include the following:
- First-hand accounts: Talk to residents or family members of residents. Ask what they like about the facility and what could be improved.
- Internet searches: Search the facility by name. Look for news and personal accounts about the facility. Although there may be concerns that aren’t online, severe cases involving resident abuse and deaths make headlines.
- Review state facility inspections: Nursing homes are subject to state inspections, and their reports are accessible online.
- Search news archives: Go to Arizona newspaper sites and search their archives for stories about long-term care facilities.
What Questions Should I Ask During a Nursing Home Tour?
Ask questions about facility fees, staff qualifications, services and amenities, and policies residents must comply with when touring the facility. Ask about the facility’s licensing, whether it meets Medicare certification requirements, and how it handles concerns. The Medicare checklist provides a comprehensive list of questions to ask during tours.
What Are the Essential Amenities and Services a Nursing Home Should Offer?
Understanding the essential amenities and services a nursing home should provide begins with clarifying how assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in Phoenix differ. Each type of facility offers different amenities and services.
There are 30,600 assisted living communities in the United States. While some of these facilities offer dementia care, they typically do not offer medical care.
Nursing homes are long-term homes where staff assist residents with bathing, dressing, and other daily tasks. Nursing homes may include skilled nursing services. However, some nursing homes do not provide post-acute care, and some skilled nursing facilities focus on short-term care. If you or your loved one has severe health issues, you may favor a nursing home with skilled nursing services and long-term residential options.
All nursing homes should provide the following:
- 24-hour staff on-site
- Bedding
- Cleaning and laundry services
- Daily living activities
- Decorations
- Dietary services
- Game room
- Health and wellness programs
- Medication services
- Personal assistance
- Space to socialize
- Toiletries
- Transportation
- Visiting hours
Those providing medical care may provide the following:
- Rehabilitative services
- Skilled nursing care
- Wound care
How Important Is the Location of the Nursing Home in Phoenix?
The importance of the facility’s location in Phoenix could depend on your specific needs. If you have family in Phoenix, you may choose Sky Harbor or our primary Phoenix location because of their proximity to your loved ones. Maintaining connections to friends and family is essential, and a facility’s location can make it easier to spend more time with the important people in your life after your move.
Depending on the type of facility you choose, its proximity to the hospital or your physician may be important. If you choose a facility in Phoenix that has skilled nursing services on-site, you may be less concerned about proximity to medical facilities; however, some nursing homes do not have skilled nursing services, and if you have significant health issues, you may prefer a facility close to the hospital.
Personal preferences are valid factors. You may favor a facility in a quiet area or one close to cafes and other places you’d like to continue visiting.
How Do I Ensure the Nursing Home Meets My Loved One’s Specific Needs?
The best way to ensure a nursing home meets your loved one’s needs is to clarify their needs and wants and confirm that the facility offers services and amenities that meet those needs.
It’s essential to recognize that wants are needs. If you find a facility that provides appropriate dietary, medication, and personal care but does not offer activities your loved one enjoys, your loved one may struggle with depression. Involving your loved one in tours is a great way for them to assess the services and amenities provided. If they have specific interests, they can talk to the activities director to confirm they’ll have opportunities to pursue them.
Choosing the Right Nursing Home
There are many things to consider when choosing a nursing home in Phoenix. In addition to your loved one’s needs and wants, consider the facility’s reputation, staff credentials, and services and amenities to ensure it’s the best choice for your loved one.
Sources:
Ariz. Admin. Code § 9-10-412. (2024).
Beebe, J. (2024). Skilled Nursing Facility: What It Is and How It Compares to Nursing Homes.
Facts & Figures. (2024).
Jones, M. (2024). Senior-Living Industry Statistics.
Public Health Licensing. (2024).