Choosing the Right Facility

A valuable online tool is “Nursing Home Compare” found in the “Search Tools” area of medicare.gov.

The Medicare website has a list of items that may help you determine what facility is best for you. Visit medicare.gov to find the full checklist or review this partial list below.

Basic Information

• The SNF provides the skilled care you need, and a bed is available.
• The SNF has special services if needed in a separate unit (e.g. dementia, ventilator, or rehabilitation), and a bed is available.
• The SNF is located close enough for friends and family to visit.

Resident Appearance

• Residents are clean, appropriately dressed for the season or time of day, and well groomed.

Living Spaces

• The SNF appears clean and well kept.
• The temperature in the SNF is comfortable for residents.

Staff

• The relationship between the staff and the residents appear to be warm, polite, and respectful.
• All staff wears name tags.
• There is a full-time Registered Nurse (RN) in the SNF at all times, other than the Director of Nursing.

Residents’ Rooms

• Residents may have personal belongings and/or furniture in their rooms.
• Each resident has a personal storage space (closet and drawers) in his or her room.
• Residents have access to a personal telephone and television.
• Residents have a choice of roommates.

Activities

• Residents, including those who are unable to leave their rooms, may choose to take part in a variety of activities.
• The SNF has outdoor areas for resident use and staff help residents go outside.

Safety & Care

• Residents get preventive care, like a yearly flu shot, to help keep them healthy.
• Residents may still see their regular doctors.
• Care plan meetings are held with residents and family members at times that are convenient whenever possible.
• The SNF has corrected all deficiencies (failure to meet one or more Federal or State requirements) on its last state inspection report.