Whether it’s time for you or a loved one to move to an assisted living facility, you may wonder how to choose the right facility. Fortunately, the process can be straightforward and satisfying with the proper preparation. Knowing what to look for when choosing an assisted living facility in Scottdale will give you confidence and help you transition to life in a senior care facility.
What Should I Look for When Choosing a Nursing Home in Scottsdale?
Whether you’re searching for the best assisted living facility or skilled nursing facility in Scottdale, you should look for a nursing facility that provides exceptional quality of care, has fantastic amenities, employs a highly qualified staff team, and is in an ideal location.
How Do I Assess the Quality of Care at a Nursing Home?
Short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and assisted living facilities receive quality measures star ratings. These ratings help individuals determine which facilities provide quality care for residents.
Those looking for a Scottsdale skilled nursing home or assisted living facility should assess how frequently residents are hospitalized or require emergency medical care. Facilities with good ratings are places where residents thrive, retain their independence, and are more likely to stay healthy and avoid injuries from accidents.
Facilities where residents are more likely to stay healthy are clean and take appropriate measures to prevent illness, such as ensuring residents get their flu shots. Facilities where residents are less likely to suffer from an accident are clean, well-lit, safe, and organized, reducing residents’ chances of tripping on loose flooring or stumbling over items on the floor. Facility staff should take appropriate steps to keep floors clear and provide enough room for people with canes, walkers, or wheelchairs to move.
What Are the Essential Amenities and Services a Nursing Home Should Offer?
While some amenities may be desirable, some amenities and services are essential for residents’ health and well-being. These essential amenities and services include the following:
- 24-hour staff onsite
- Dietary services
- Health programs
- Housekeeping
- Laundry services
- Medical and rehabilitative therapy, including:
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Skilled nursing care
- Speech therapy
- Wound care
- Medical management
- Personal care
- Transportation services
Senior care facilities should also promote social engagement and help residents stay mentally and physically active by providing the following:
- Game rooms
- Onsite activities
- Outings
- Seasonal decor
- Social spaces
- Visiting hours
- Wellness programs
What Qualifications Should Nursing Home Staff Have?
Arizona requires nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and skilled nursing facilities to employ sufficient numbers of qualified staff to provide appropriate care for residents. Nursing home administrators must meet staff-to-resident ratios determined by Arizona Admin. Code § 9-10-412 guidelines. For example, there must be one nurse available for every 64 residents. If the facility has 65 residents, the administrator must have two onsite nurses.
Per Arizona’s licensing requirements for assisted living facilities, staff must have fingerprint clearance and pass a federal criminal history check. They must also complete and pass the same training that in-home caregivers complete, except for medication administration. Training requirements include 62 instruction hours and first aid and CPR training.
How Important Is the Location of the Nursing Home in Scottsdale?
The location of the nursing home or assisted living facility is a crucial consideration. Suppose you’re searching for a skilled nursing facility for your loved one, and they need medical care. You may prioritize a facility near a hospital. However, if you’re choosing an assisted living facility in Scottsdale, you may prioritize one close to parks and local amenities, such as libraries.
The facility’s distance from family members and friends is another consideration. An individual moving from their Scottsdale home may choose a facility near their old neighborhood so they can visit friends after they move.
How Can I Evaluate the Reputation of a Nursing Home?
Although it’s common to tour nursing homes before choosing a facility, it’s a good idea to drop in occasionally and visit with residents. You’ll get a chance to see how things run when they don’t expect you. Be sure to talk to residents who can provide you with valuable insight. Are residents happy and healthy? Do they enjoy the activities? Do they like the staff? Their feelings about their facility can help you determine the quality of care provided.
You can also do a web search to see if people have complained about the facility. There should be news reports if there are serious incidents, such as neglect or abuse allegations.
Lastly, you can ask the residents’ family members about the quality of care. Drop in during visiting hours and talk to other visitors to learn more about the facility.
What Questions Should I Ask During a Nursing Home Tour?
It would be best to ask many things when touring a nursing home, including how many residents there are, what types of amenities and activities the facility provides, the cost of care, and whether there are extra fees for some activities or amenities. Medicare also provides a checklist you can use to ensure you learn as much as possible when touring a facility.
How Do You Ensure the Nursing Home Meets Your Loved One’s Specific Needs?
Personalized care plans ensure each resident receives customized, appropriate care. These plans identify the individual’s goals and provide strategies to achieve those goals, which may involve actions from the individual and the staff. Choosing a facility that provides effective personalized care plans ensures your loved one’s physical and mental health needs are met while respecting the individual’s preferences.
Exceptional Care From Haven Health
Haven Health’s assisted living facility near your Scottsdale location is an exceptional option for moving to a senior care center. Our highly qualified team of caregivers and medical professionals offers personal care, medical care, and rehabilitative therapy onsite. We also have all the essential amenities you need to thrive. Visit our award-winning facility today for a tour and learn more about the exceptional care our residents enjoy at our Scottsdale center.
Sources:
Ariz. Admin. Code § 9-10-412. (2024).
Quality measures for nursing homes. (2024).
Questions to Ask When You Visit a Nursing Home. (2022).
What’s a nursing home care plan? (2024).