What Caregivers Should Know About Nursing Home Care

Nursing Home Checklist continued...

Social and recreational activities

• Is there an activities program?
• Are the activities posted for residents?
• Do most of the residents at activities seem to be participating?

Food service

• Does the nursing home provide three nutritionally balanced meals a day, seven days a week?
• Is the food hot, attractive, and tasty?
• Are snacks available?
• How are special diets handled? May a resident request special foods?
• Is drinking water always accessible?
• Are common dining areas available or do residents eat meals in their rooms?
• May meals be provided at times a resident prefers or are there set meal times?
• Is assistance available for residents who need help with eating?

Residents and Atmosphere

Common terms:

Skilled nursing care: Care that is received in a nursing facility that provides 24-hour nursing care for convalescent residents and those with long-term care illnesses. It is one step below hospital acute care, and regular medical supervision and rehabilitation therapy are usually available.

Personal care: Care that is customized to the individual needs of activities of daily living; self-administration of medications.

Activities of daily living (ADL): Everyday activities that include bathing, grooming, eating, toileting, and dressing.

Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL): Include activities such as shopping, preparing meals, performing housework, laundering, heavy chores, managing finances, and yard work and maintenance.

Home health care: Medical and nursing care that is administered in the individual's home by a licensed provider.

Health maintenance organization (HMO): A health maintenance organization is an organized system for providing comprehensive healthcare in a specific geographic area to a voluntarily enrolled group of members.