Staff

Nursing homes have a 24-hour-a-day staff including highly skilled nurses and nursing aides. Other staff may include cleaning staff, food service workers, social workers and administrative staff.

Considerations

If your loved one has trouble with mobility, difficulty in remembering things, problems with hygiene and excessive need for outside help, he or she may need a nursing home. Committing a loved one to a nursing home is a personal decision that often relies on present circumstances such as the availability or lack of at-home support for your loved one while you are at work.

Therapies

Nursing homes also offer rehabilitation services such as physical and occupational therapy. The primary goal of rehabilitation is to gradually prepare clients for their return to mainstream living.

Specialty

Some nursing homes specialize in certain disabilities such as Alzheimer's; some institutions are geared toward couples.

Alternatives

You may have alternatives to a nursing home for your loved one. Depending on the severity of the disability, he or she may adjust better to assisted living, or be able to stay in the home with the right assistance. The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) features a medicaid package that enables the patient to receive help and stay at home.

Source:

Nursing Home Info: What Is a Nursing Home?

Medicare: Nursing Homes

Medline Plus: Nursing Homes

More Information:

Care Pathways: When Is It Time to Move Your Loved One to a Care Facility