Robert J. Shanahan Elder Law Blog on Lawyers.com

The task of finding a nursing home for a loved one can be overwhelming. NJ elder law firms provide information and factors to consider when compiling a list of potential nursing homes:

• Is the facility conveniently located to family and friends?
• Is the facility approved to accept Medicaid and Medicare?
• Is the facility equipped and staffed to meet the medical, nursing, and personal needs of your loved one?
• Is the facility open to new residents in a time frame that is acceptable to you?

Plan to visit the potential nursing homes. If possible, visit the facility more than once at different times of day and on different days of the week.

A visit to a potential nursing home requires the use of all senses. Keep track of what you see, hear, and smell. The most obvious is your sense of sight. Here are some things to look for when you are on your tour:

• Are the residents clean, well groomed, and appropriately dressed?
• Is the facility clean and well kept?
• Do the residents have personal belongings in their rooms?
• Are the residents in the activities areas, dining room, and outdoor area?
• Are the residents being changed, dressed, or taken to the bathroom in the plain sight or is their right to privacy being respected?

Your sense of hearing will come in handy as well. Listen to how the residents and staff interact with each other. Do the staff members call the residents by name? Also, are the noise levels in the common areas and dining room comfortable?

Use your sense of smell to detect the pervasive smell of urine and other body odors. Also, be aware of heavy doses of air fresheners or other chemical cover-ups, which may be a substitute for conscientious care and maintenance.

Your sense of touch can be used to determine if the facility is being kept at the appropriate temperature for the residents. Your sense of taste can be used to sample the food from the facility’s dining room.

In addition to the tour, review the inspection reports from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Each nursing home is evaluated under the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Five Star Rating system. You can check if the facility complies with elder law in NJ. Medicare also compiles the following information for each nursing home:

• The number of beds and how many are occupied
• The number of staff members working at the facility
• Information about the residents
• Facility inspection summary results

Contact an elder law attorney in NJ for help selecting a nursing home for your loved one at 1322 Route 31 North, Annandale, New Jersey 08801; Toll Free: 866-339-1325.