Funded By:
Tthis Resource Guide published by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is focused on independent living, inclusion, and integration into all aspects of the community, it may become necessary at some point to consider the option of a nursing home. Choosing a nursing home is one of life’s most challenging events. A nursing home provides nursing care and rehabilitation services to people with illnesses, injuries, or functional disabilities. Nursing homes are generally stand-alone facilities, but some are operated within a hospital or retirement community. Many nursing homes now provide care that was previously provided in a hospital setting. The Nursing Home guide contains specific questions you should ask the Nursing Home Staff. The pamphlet also contains ideas on specific areas of the nursing home you should look at and evaluate by yourself. It also provides information on when care is needed, choosing a nursing home, screening your list of nursing homes, making the selection, after admission to a nursing home, and more.
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/02174.pdf
The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services Division of Supportive Living Bureau of Quality Assurance has created a “Know your Rights as a Resident in a Nursing Home” pamphlet. This pamphlet lists the rights of all residents in a nursing home.
Division
of Supportive Living Bureau of Quality Assurance
1 West Wilson Street
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701-0309
608-266-6646
608-266-7376 (TTD)
http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/programs.htm
Click here for Nursing Home Resident
Rights
Nursing
Home Reform Act
Nursing homes that receive federal funds must comply with the Nursing
Home Reform Act. The basic objective of the Nursing Home Reform
Act is to ensure residents of nursing homes receive quality care
that will result in their achieving or maintaining the highest practical
physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. Care must be given
based on written documentation for each resident known as an individualized
plan of care. To obtain quality care in nursing homes, the Nursing
Home Reform Act requires the provision of certain services to each
resident and establishes a Patient’s Bill of Rights.
http://www.nursinghomeabuseresourcecenter.com/reform/
The
Nursing Home Residents' Bill of Rights
Federal and State laws guarantee the rights of each person living
in a nursing home. Nursing homes must have policies that ensure
resident rights as well as staff that honor these rights. Upon admission
to a nursing home and upon any changes in state or federal law or
facility rules, a nursing home must explain and give you a full
and complete copy of your rights. Nursing home staff must also encourage
you to exercise these rights.
The Nursing Home Reform Act established the following rights for nursing home residents:
601 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20049
800-424-3410
http://research.aarp.org/health/fs84_reform.html
AARP
The American Association of Retired Persons, AARP is a nonprofit
membership organization dedicated to addressing the needs and interests
of persons 50 and older. Through information and education, advocacy
and service, the organization seeks to enhance the quality of life
for all by promoting independence, dignity and purpose.
AARP foundation provides direct services to senior citizens, particularly in the areas of consumer advocacy, legal assistance, tax counseling, job training and placement, and health care and long term care information. Choosing a good nursing home is one area of focus. This topic includes information a person should know about nursing homes, how and where to start in searching for one, as well as information resources.
AARP
601 E St., NW
Washington, DC 20049
800-424-3410
202-434-2277
http://www.aarp.org
http://www.aarp.org/families/housing_choices/nursing_homes/a2004-02-27-nuringchecklist.html
Medicare:
Nursing Homes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administer
Medicare, the nation's largest health insurance program. Medicare
is a Health Insurance Program for people 65 years of age and older,
some disabled people under 65 years of age, and people with End-Stage
Renal Disease.
The Centers provide detailed information about the performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country. The information includes a guide to choosing a nursing home, nursing home compare, nursing home checklist, paying for care, nursing home residents’ rights, nursing home inspections, and nursing home publications.
Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Nursing Homes
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore MD 21244-1850
410-786-3000
http://www.medicare.gov
http://www.medicare.gov/Nursing/Overview.asp
http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Home.asp
National
Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (ORC)
The National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center provides support,
technical assistance, and training to the 53 State Long Term Care
Ombudsman Programs and their statewide networks of almost 600 regional,
local programs. The Center's objectives are to enhance the skills,
knowledge, and management capacity of the State programs to enable
them to handle residents' complaints and represent resident interests,
both individual and systemic advocacy. ORC was founded by the Administration
on Aging (AoA). The Center is operated by the National Citizens'
Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR), in cooperation with
the National Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA).
ORC
Office
1424 16th Street, NW
Suite 202
Washington, DC 20036
202-332-2275
http://www.ltcombudsman.org/ombpublic/49_151_940.CFM
National
Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR)
NCCNHR was formed because of public concern about standard care
in nursing homes. NCCNHR’s member board, which includes residents
of nursing homes, represents the nationwide concerned advocates
of quality long-term care.
Members
of NCCNHR’s information resources comprise a coalition of
local citizens action groups, state and local long-term care ombudsmen,
legal service programs, professional groups, religious organizations
as well as national organizations.
NCCNHR provides information and leadership on federal and state
regulatory and legislative policy development and strategies to
improve care and life for residents of nursing homes and other long
term care facilities
NCCNHR offers a wide range of publications for consumers and professionals on long-term care issues such as resident rights, laws and regulations, physical and chemical restraints, malnutrition and dehydration, and resident assessment and care planning.
National
Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR)
1424 16th Street, NW
Suite 202
Washington, DC 20036
202-332-2275
http://www.nccnhr.org
The
American Association of Home and Service for Aging (AAHSA)
AAHSA is committed to advancing the vision of healthy, affordable,
ethical long-term care for Americans. The association represents
over 5600 mission-driven, non-profit nursing homes, continuing care
retirement communities, assisted living and senior housing facilities,
and community service organizations.
AAHSA goals include leading the development of an integrated continuum of chronic and long-term care services that includes supportive housing, promotes high-quality long-term services and expands strategically AAHSA’s resources to enhance member services.
American
Association of Home and Service for Aging (AAHSA)
2519 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
202-783-2242
http://www2.aahsa.org/
American
Health Care Association (AHCA)
National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL)
The American Health Care Association and the National Center for
Assisted Living represent nearly 12,000 non-profit and for-profit
nursing facilities, assisted living residences, and homes for persons
with developmental disabilities.
Members of AHCA and NCAL are long term care providers who believe that the individuals served are entitled to a supportive environment in which professional and compassionate care is delivered in a safe and secure setting. This belief compels AHCA and NCAL, their affiliates and member providers to advocate for persons who, because of social needs, disability, trauma, age or illness require services provided in a long-term care setting.
American
Health Care Association/ National Center for Assisted Living
1201 L St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
202-842-4444
202-842-3860
http://www.ahca.org
LongTermCareLiving.com
Sponsored by the American Health Care Association and the National
Center for Assisted Living, LongTermCareLiving.com provides consumers
with needed information about long-term care. LongTermCareLiving.com
has developed a guide for planning, preparing, and paying for long-term
care. Topics include information on nursing homes, how to prepare
yourself and your family for the transition, how to select a nursing
home, and how to pay for long-term care.
To
request printed copies of LongTermCareLiving.com guides and brochures
call:
800-628-8140
http://www.longtermcareliving.com
Nursing
Home INFO
Nursing Home INFO is a service of Nelson & Wallery, Ltd. Nelson
& Wallery, Ltd. is a financial and Internet marketing consulting
firm specializing in the senior care industry. Nursing Home INFO’s
mission is to provide creative technology and information solutions
to business and the general public. It provides information on selecting
a nursing home, nursing home services, home health care, adult health
care, assisted living, patient rights, and how to deal with abuse
and neglect.
Nelson
& Wallery, Ltd./Nursing Home INFO
N47213 Ellenberger Lane
Eleva, Wisconsin 54738
715-287-3233
http://www.nursinghomeinfo.com/index.html
Shopping
For Nursing Home
The choice of a good facility involves qualities that relate both
to medical care and the comforts of home. Finding a facility that
fulfills both functions well at all times is tricky, and it may
not always be possible to find the ideal solution. “Shopping
for Nursing Home” provides information on how to search for
a nursing home. Topics include major concerns in choosing a home,
how to begin a search, and ways to find out the quality of the service
the nursing home provides.
