Nursing homes - the selection criteria
All content is checked by medical journalists.Moving to a home is, in most cases, a final decision. Therefore, you should choose the facility wisely and gather as much information as possible about it before making a decision.
The following points will help you choose a suitable facility:
»Information: Have brochures, price lists, care concepts and the house rules of the homes in question sent to you.
»Personal requirements: Which requirements should the home absolutely meet - should it be in the vicinity of the previous place of residence, should it allow pets or bring your own furniture, have a garden or offer certain cultural, social and religious activities? Create a checklist for a better overview.
»Dependency: Ask whether a care place is guaranteed if your state of health worsens.
»Optics: Take a look at the home - not just the entrance hall, but also the living areas, dining rooms and care department. Visit other homes and compare.
»Residents: You can also come into the house unannounced and, if possible, talk to the residents or their relatives. What impression do the residents make on you? Are they well-groomed, do they occupy themselves according to their abilities and inclinations, or do they sit indifferently in the corner?
»Atmosphere: Try to capture the atmosphere of the home. Do the employees appear friendly or do they look rushed?
»Appointment: Make an appointment with the home management, but only after the viewing appointment - some questions only arise afterwards.
»Staff: Inquire how many staff are available and what the proportion of qualified nurses is. The proportion of specialist staff in good homes should be at least 50 percent. Are the employees trained in dementia? If so: how and by whom? Also ask how many staff are present at night and on weekends. If you can see the duty rosters: Are more staff planned for the peak times of the day (breakfast to noon)? Who will be notified in an emergency?
»Daily routine: Have the daily routine described to you. What are seniors allowed to do themselves? Active, supportive care is usually more time-consuming, which is why the elderly are often not allowed to do anything on their own. This promotes dependency.
»Menu: Let us show you the menu. Do the dishes meet your requirements? How many menus are there to choose from?
»Leisure activities: What are the leisure activities for residents like? Are there community activities like singing, painting or dancing?
»Therapies: Check the therapeutic offer. For example, is there gymnastics or swimming?
»Medical care: What does medical care look like - is further care by the family doctor possible? Do the nursing staff carry out the doctor's orders?
»Location: When choosing a home, also take into account the proximity to the previous apartment. Then neighbors or friends can come by without any problems.
»Infrastructure: What does the infrastructure look like, are there shops, pharmacies or hairdressers nearby?
»Representation of interests: Is there a home advisory board or a family advisory board? The latter can have a say in the interests of the residents.
At the end of 2019, new guidelines for quality testing in nursing homes came into force. They replace the previous care grades and focus on the quality of care. The new guidelines are checked annually and generally without prior notice. The quality reports can be found in understandable form on the Internet.
