How to Choose a Nursing Home: Count the Stars

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Everytime I have the opportunity to read a qualified writer's work, they seem to come up with what I call great phrasing today simular like "Nursing Home is to Assisted Living," which can be connected to one of my very favorite being "Used Cars is to Pre-Owned Cars." Between you and me, don't tell anyone but what I'm really waiting for is "NUSED CARS, not New or not Used, just NUSED."
Mr. A. or Mr. A.C. and A.C., etc. I guess it still all goes back to marketing. Sure seems there must be a catch no matter what the game is. We could break it all the way down to 5 cent pencils that were sold years ago by the disabled sitting on the ground of a busy downtown corner. A.C. my friend, it all comes down to timing. Your subject now is nursing homes. I could tell you about how I would judge them because of my experiences as my father was placed in one here in St. Louis which by what we (mother and I)read truly had or interest pre our first visit or the third maybe fourth time within the first year we rushed out to the hospital praying all the way. Yes, it was one of the most costly along with the now what appeared to be a very unique write up that we both felt he was going to get the care of a Mayo or Cleveland Clinic along with the skill of a Johns Hopkins.
Anyway we look at it, if whomever is in this home in question I can only advise you if they are a loving relation to you, prepare yourself for some added time to your weekly schedule or then again you might hire someone to fill that spot which gains you nothing but putting yourself in possibly the exact same position. Again we enjoyed your piece A.C. G-d Bless and enjoy your "Positive Timing," this week.
Franky and Breeze...

Franky and Breeze of MO 7:59PM December 21, 2008

My wife, is only 47 years old had spent the last 2+ years in a nursing home facility due to a crippling bacterial infection that left her unable to walk. This past August she finally came home. That is the good news. What we found though is without residents families maintaining strong oversight of a facility the care usually falls to less than accepted levels. That is not for all facilities nor is it for all shifts in a given facility. She has been a resident at two different facilities, level of care being the reason for her going to a different home the second time she was admitted. Unfortunately the first year at the second home was worse than the first home. It was only with oversight and the state of Texas inspections that finally forced the ownership of the facility to overhaul the staff and clean up the care. More than once my wife called me in the middle of the night because she was left for over an hour on a bedpan. Others were treated worse as the majority of the population was elderly and did not have anyone to watch out for them, to speak out for them. We took it upon ourselves to be that spokesperson for those who could not. Many elderly cannot speak or are too sick and weak to do so. While my wife finally, through very hard work was able to strengthen her weakened body enough to come home (she will always be confined to a wheelchair and unable to work) most residents never will leave these facilities. Is this how we want our Mother's and Father's treated in their last years? Especially if we are not there to care for and watch out for their well being?

Paul Titsworth of TX 8:55AM December 20, 2008