| Then, use the Medicare's Nursing Home Compare tool, which provides information on Medicare- and Medicaid- certified facilities in Arizona, to derive a list of prospective nursing home and long-term care facilities that appear to fit the needs and preferences of your loved one. The more choices you have, the better your chances of making the best selection.
When searching for a nursing home, you will need to decide on the location and types of services the elderly resident will need. You will then need to make telephone inquiries to determine whether each facility actually provides the care you desire, if it participates in Medicare or Medicaid, if there are vacancies for new residents available, and if there is an admission waiting period. This will narrow your list down.
The next and most important step is to visit the Arizona nursing homes you are considering. When you visit the facility notice what you see, hear and smell, and trust your instincts. Especially, observe how staff and residents interact with one another; how residents relate to one another; whether or not the environment is comfortable and home-like. Finally consider whether the facility appears safe and clean. (Refer to your checklist for specific things to look for.)
Preferably, you will want to visit the Arizona nursing home more than once and at different times of the day. Make your first appointment to visit during the late morning or midday so you can observe the noon meal routine and to meet the nursing home administrator.
Plan another visit during the afternoon to see what kinds of activities the residents are being offered and whether or not there is any active participation by residents. You can also plan a visit during the evening meal. Expect to spend at least an hour at each visit.
If you follow a guided tour, converse with residents and ask to see the latest state survey inspection report, along with the facility’s plan of correction if they were cited for deficiencies.
The state of Arizona also offers a variety of nursing home information through the Office of Long-Term Care Licensing which licenses and inspects Arizona nursing homes.
James Morgan is one of a skilled team of Arizona Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect lawyers dedicated to pursuing justice for those injured by nursing home negligence, abuse and medical misconduct and are committed to helping prevent nursing home abuse and neglect by diligently defending the rights of elders throughout the state of Arizona including Maricopa County, Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, Peoria, Chandler, Sun City, Sun City West, Fountain Hills, Surprise, Gilbert, El Mirage, Avondale, Tempe, Scottsdale, Tucson, Pima County, Yuma, Yuma County, Flagstaff and Coconino County.
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