It's understandable if the choice of a senior care facility for a loved one is based on personal recommendation or proximity to the home of family members. For examination of additional criteria, there are several valid resources available online from government and non-government organizations to help you assess how well a senior care facility is meeting its quality of care requirements.
The sites may indicate hardware and software requirements for downloading. For example, some files will require WinZip and Microsoft Access 2000 (or later).
Please note these data require careful study and consideration within context, and no report should serve at the sole criterion for selection of a health care facility.
The following are free online resources intended to help the reader make better informed decisions about nursing home selection:
Medicare's Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home
Here is where to begin if you would like a general overview specifically on nursing home selection. The reader will be informed about locating and comparing nursing homes, how to finance the care, the rights of a nursing home resident and contacts for assistance.
The contents of this document include how to choose the correct level of care, arrangements for entering a nursing home, the roles of Medicaid, Medicare, long-term care insurance and Medicare Part D for prescription drugs. Resident rights, nursing home checklists and quality comparisons between homes are likewise discussed.
To access this document, please go to:
http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/static/Interim/PDF_Interim.asp?Language=English&Type=Pub&PubID=02174
Medicare's Nursing Home Checklist
This four-page checklist is designed to be used for evaluation while on-site in a nursing home. The checklist is divided into: Basic Information; Resident Appearance; Nursing Home Living Spaces; Staff; Residents' Rooms; Hallways, Stairs, Lounges and Bathrooms; Menus and Food; Activities; and Safety and Care.
To access this document, please go to:
http://www.medicare.gov/nursing/checklist.pdf
Databases for Downloading - Nursing Home Compare
The drop-down menu will help you locate the following Nursing Home Compare databases: About the Nursing Home, About the Nursing Home Inspection Results, About the Nursing Home Residents, About the Nursing Home Staff and About the Nursing Home Ratings. There are other databases available from the menu, such as dialysis facility compare, home health compare, hospital compare and health insurance information.
To access this site, please go to:
http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Static/tabSI.asp?language=English&activeTab=3&subTab=16
Medicare Helpful Contacts for Organizations
This site provides the user with two search options: finding information on a specific topic, or finding information on an organization.
The topic selection asks you to select a geographic area from a drop-down menu, and permits you to select one or more topic areas such as general Medicare information, quality of care and complaints, general health information, and health care facilities and services in your area.
The organization selection will bring you to a page with a drop-down menu listing dozens of government and regulatory agencies, such as Joint Commission, Quality Improvement Organization, Nursing Home State Survey Agency, Social Security Information and State Health Departments.
To access this site, please go to:
http://www.medicare.gov/Contacts/Default.aspx
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Five-Star Rating System
This site provides the user with a description of the quality rating system for nursing homes used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with particular attention to health inspections, staffing and quality measures.
Available downloads include a user's guide to the system, summary tables, the technical expert panel, a consumer fact sheet and a summary of public comments.
To access this site, please go to:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/13_FSQRS.asp#TopOfPage
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Certification and Compliance for Nursing Homes
This site provides the user with the requirements for Medicare and/or Medicaid nursing home provider certification. State health departments will conduct unannounced surveys on skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities, which must successfully pass these surveys in order to be eligible for Medicaid or Medicare reimbursements.
Downloads available from this site include the executive summary for evaluation of the quality indicator survey, scoring methodology, nursing home action plans, nursing home data compendium and an external link to a study of paid feeding assistant programs.
To access this site, please go to:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/12_NHs.asp#TopOfPage
Agencies That Can Help with Long-Term Care Choices
This site provides descriptive information, URLs and/or phone numbers for government and non-government organizations including the Area Agencies on Aging, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, Centers for Independent Living, State Technology Assistance Project and the State Medical Assistance Medicaid Office.
To access this site, please go to:
http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Static/tabSI.asp?language=English&activeTab=3&subTab=18
Nursing Home Publications
This site contains a list of publications available for downloading. Most of the publications are printed in English and Spanish.
Titles include "Medicare Coverage of Skilled Nursing Facility Care," "Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home," "Medicare's Nursing Home Compare" and "Medicare and You 2009."
To access this site, please go to:
http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Static/tabSI.asp?language=English&activeTab=3&subTab=2
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
CARF is a non-government, non-profit organization whose mission focuses on improving care through its accreditation processes. Organizations that undergo voluntary CARF accreditation include providers of rehabilitation and human services. Unlike surveys conducted by state health departments, the results of these surveys do not directly impact Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement eligibility.
Nevertheless, CARF surveys are designed to reflect the highest standards of care. These standards must be met in order for a service or facility to earn accreditation.