Checklists can help you evaluate the nursing homes that you call or visit. Use a new checklist for each home you call or visit. Then, compare the scores. This will help you select a nursing home that is a good choice for you or your relative.
Nursing Home Name: _________________________________________
Date Visited: __________________________
Address: ______________________________________________
Useful Tips
Useful Tips
For Sections III through VI, give the nursing home a grade from one to five. One is worst, five is best.
Worst | Best | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Residents can make choices about
their daily routine. Examples are
when to go to bed or get up, when to
bathe, or when to eat.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2. The interaction between staff and
patient is warm and respectful.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
3. The home is easy to visit for
friends and family.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
4. The nursing home meets your
cultural, religious, or language
needs.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
5. The nursing home smells and
looks clean and has good lighting.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
6. The home maintains comfortable
temperatures.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
7. The resident rooms have personal
articles and furniture.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
8. The public and resident rooms
have comfortable furniture.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
9. The nursing home and its dining
room are generally quiet.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
10. Residents may choose from a
variety of activities that they like.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
11. The nursing home has outside
volunteer groups.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
12. The nursing home has outdoor
areas for resident use and helps
residents to get outside.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
TOTAL: _____________
(Best Possible Score: 60)
Worst | Best | 1. The facility corrected any Quality of Care deficiencies that were in the State inspection report. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2. Residents may continue to see their personal physician. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
3. Residents are clean, appropriately
dressed, and well groomed.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
4. Nursing Home staff respond
quickly to requests for help.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
5. The administrator and staff seem comfortable with each other and with the residents. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
6. Residents have the same care givers on a daily basis. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
7. There are enough staff at night and on week-ends or holidays to care for each resident. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
8. The home has an arrangement for emergency situations with a nearby hospital. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
9. The family and residents councils are independent from the nursing home's management. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
10. Care plan meetings are held at times that are easy for residents and their family members to attend. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
TOTAL: _____________
(Best Possible Score: 50)
Useful Tips
Worst | Best | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. The home corrected any deficiencies in these areas that were on the recent state inspection report. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2. There are enough staff to assist each resident who requires help with eating. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
3. The food smells and looks good and is served at proper temperatures. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
4. Residents are offered choices of
food at mealtimes.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
5. Residents’ weight is routinely monitored. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
6. There are water pitchers and glasses on tables in the rooms. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
7. Staff help residents drink if they are not able to do so on their own. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
8. Nutritious snacks are available during the day and evening. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
9. The environment in the dining room encourages residents to relax, socialize, and enjoy their food. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
TOTAL: _____________
(Best Possible Score: 45)
Useful Tips
Worst | Best | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. There are handrails in the hallways and grab bars in the bathrooms. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2. Exits are clearly marked. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
3. Spills and other accidents are cleaned up quickly. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
4. Hallways are free of clutter and have good lighting. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
5. There are enough staff to help
move residents quickly in an
emergency.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
6. The nursing home has smoke
detectors and sprinklers.
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
TOTAL: _____________
(Best Possible Score: 30)
Nursing Home Compare contains summary information about nursing homes from their last state inspection. It also contains information that was reported by the nursing homes prior to the last State inspection including nursing home and resident characteristics. If you have questions or concerns about the information on a nursing home, you should discuss them during your visit. This section contains useful tips and questions that you may want to ask the nursing home staff, family members and residents of the nursing home during your visit.
Nursing Home Compare Information on Results of Nursing Home Inspections
Nursing Home Compare Information on Resident and Nursing Home Characteristics
Nursing Home Compare Information on Nursing Staff
Caring, competent nursing staff who respect each resident and family member are very important in assuring that residents get needed care and enjoy the best possible quality of life. Adequate nursing staff is needed to assess resident needs, plan and give them care, and help them with eating, bathing and other activities. Some residents (e.g., those who are more dependent in eating or who are bedfast) need more help than other residents depending on their conditions.
The combinations of registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical and vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs)that nursing homes may have vary depending on the type of care that residents need and the number of residents in the nursing home.
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