Considering a nursing home for long-term care or elder care is one of the most difficult decisions you and your family can encounter. Whether you have a health risk and planning for a future in a nursing home or are considering a nursing home for your elderly parents, the choice to leave your loved one in the care of others, especially when they are in a vulnerable state, is nothing to take lightly. That’s why it’s important to consider the most important factors when choosing a nursing home.
You should be considering both the quality of care and medical practices, as well as the culture of compassion that the nursing home should have. When it comes to long-term care, these two factors often go hand in hand. Even in a state-of-the-art facility with all the medical bells and whistles, if the nurses don’t show compassion, attention, and trust to their patients, they may not be able to communicate properly or pick up on behaviors that could be signs of health risks. And on the other hand, if the nurses aren’t empowered with efficient staffing systems, high-quality facilities, and the medical tools and technology to monitor and deliver care, a great nurse might not be able to do their best work for your loved one.
To get a high-level look at how a nursing home compares to its peers based on factors like staff retention, nurse-to-patient ratio, medical examination results, online rankings can be helpful. But anecdotal information you can glean from others who have used the nursing home can provide you with the context you need to decide. Remember, the goal is quality of life and independence for your loved ones, so quantitative factors and nursing home rankings will only tell part of the story.
In addition, visiting the nursing home one or more times to talk to the administrators, and nurses, and observe the work they do themselves, is the best way to get a sense of if the nursing home feels right. Are the patients in the home happy? Are they engaged in activities? Are they making decisions for themselves? Are the nurses dedicated, patient and observant? These factors are some of the most important when it comes to choosing a nursing home. Make sure to ask questions to administrators about visitation hours and the services and qualities you are looking for in a nursing home. Their answers will say a lot!
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Choosing a nursing home isn’t the only factor you have to think about when utilizing long-term care. You’ll also want to consider financing options that allow you to pay for care. A financial professional can help you factor in long-term care costs to your financial strategy. To get started, contact us at (540) 720-5656.
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Megan Jones joined the ILG Financial team in 2020 as marketing director. Megan and her husband live in Fredericksburg, VA with their German Short Haired Pointer, Gus. Megan is a graduate of Longwood University and holds a degree in communications. Megan is the oldest of Dave Lopez’s three children and not only enjoys working alongside her father, but also with her cousin, Chase, who joined the ILG Financial team in 2020 as an advisor. Megan is also a fully licensed Life, Health, and Annuity agent. When not at work, Megan enjoys sitting on the back porch with family and friends enjoying food and music.
Amy Anderson joined the ILG Financial team in 2023 as the client relations coordinator. Her responsibilities include scheduling of appointments, annual check-up notifications, and annuity and required minimum distribution assistance. She is a graduate of Harding University with a degree in Computer Information Systems. Amy and her husband have two children and she enjoys reading, crocheting, music and spending time with her family.
Terri Center joined the ILG Financial team in 2019 as client services manager. She handles client records, application processing, and gathering information to provide a professional and friendly experience with all of our clients. Terri is a graduate of Oakland University. She is married and has two children. She enjoys hiking, family time, and puzzle challenging video games. She also likes to share her creativity in her canvas paintings and sewing projects.
Jessica Carson joined the ILG Financial team in 2018 as an agent. Jessica and her husband have four children, two dogs, 3 barn cats, 5 chickens, and three parakeets. She indeed loves her children and pets! When not at work, Jessica enjoys playing the piano and cello as well as traveling and spending time outside with her family, hiking, fishing, and boating.
Chase Lopez joined the ILG Financial team in 2020 as an advisor. Chase is a 2016 James Madison University graduate with a degree in management. Chase has been trained under the tutelage of Dave Lopez, who is not only the founder and managing member of ILG Financial, but also is Chase’s uncle and godfather. He also enjoys working alongside his cousin, Megan, who is Dave’s daughter.