Thank you for posting this. Some of what I thought were 'the better ones' in our area - aren't.

I've started thinking more about nursing homes and assisted living places recently. Two of my good friends, since 4th grade, have had recent health issues that have brought about a need for both.

ML

Wow, annie, thanks for posting this link. It seems that most of the nursing homes in my town give 94% of their residents antipsychotic drugs. They can't all be psychotic, but I'll bet they're all a pain in the you know what, and the meds keep them quiet.

Well this couldn't have come at a better time!

At medicare.gov you can see the actual reports.
When you get to the page of the facility click on "view full report"

Here is a link that might be useful: Medicare.gov

Based on what is in my area, two mainstays, I find these reportings unhelpful from both sites.

A. in my area, gets a 3 star overall. in reality, it's a dump and I have never heard anything good about it from my many nurse friends.

B. in my area, gets the lowest star overall, but it seems ok to me. My Dad stayed there for rehabilitation and while certainly a depressing place, overall it was ok.

In a different city and 15 years ago, my grandmother was in 3 different nursing homes over a short period before settling into a NHC for 6 years. And that place was prettier than the others but only decent because my mother had learned to go all the time erratically, send huge catered plates of gourmet food to the staff and in all ways be present.

I've just moved my friend to her second "home".
She fell in the last one and cracked her head open.
I left work and went to the hospital the "home" said the transport took her to...NOT..
Took them 40 min. to call back with the correct hospital.
Still could not get a straight story of how she fell.
She was also only being walked 3x a week.
I was more then willing to pay someone to come in and walk her more but was not allowed.
This place was a 4 star review, the highest they really get.

It is such an ordeal looking for a fit in a "home".
There are skilled nursing facilities that can medically care for a persons needs but not much more.
There are facilities that can stimulate their minds while living in an apt-like atmosphere with quasi independence but can not tend to all the physical needs.
The place she just moved to can assist with the toileting and walking but they mostly have dementia patients.
My friend has a very clear mind.
This is such an eye opening experience for me .
There's a hole in the elderly care programs that I have not been able to fill.
That middle ground between retirement communities and nursing facilities, that for now,I will continue my search for.

Really people ..It's a maze...

Background: 15 year senior living industry experience.

The rating system is a good tool to use to begin a facility selection process. The ratings are based upon measured criteria, i.e., # of registered nurse hours scheduled, # of medication errors per resident, # of patient falls per resident, etc. A 5 star is the highest rating. Most facilities would find a 3 star rating to be poor.

It is challenging to visit a facility and get a true reading of the care and treatment of residents, so the rating system provides a review of the institutional processes in place. Frankly, much happens during late evening and night hours when management staffing is light and family and friends aren't visiting!

Do visitors have the knowledge to determine if the infrastructure meets current code, and that fire drills and emergency evacuations are tested routinely? Before the rating system, family members often relied on a quick sniff and general feel about the place.

My bias is non-profit over for profit facilities EVERY time. Although acknowledge the for profits typically have resources to put into systems. IF finances are not an issue, don't recommend selecting a facility which accepts Medicaid patients. Generally, a competitive market will require higher levels of care and treatment to remain viable.
~bgj