It’s a nightmare at first.
It’s an emotional rollercoaster.
It’s a process that most people don’t know anything about until it smacks them in the face.
Finding a nursing home or senior-living option for a loved one can evoke intense responses – not only from family members, but also from social workers and health care advocates.
This important decision is often made quickly when unexpected medical conditions suddenly arise. With the right resources and information, the in-depth process can lead to suitable living situations for residents.
But, without knowing their rights, elders can get taken advantage of.
No one would hears more about these cases locally than Cheryl Wilson, director of the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program in St. Louis.
Wilson’s office is the area’s most comprehensive resource serving residents of nursing homes and their families. The program is part of a national effort, which began in 1971, to advocate for and defend elders from abuse and neglect in long-term nursing home facilities.
LTC ombudsman programs are mandated and funded under the federal Older Americans Act. Every county in the U.S. has such an agency, as prescribed by law.
More of Wilson’s calls come from Caucasian elders than non-white elders because it seems they are more likely to seek out an advocate, Wilson said. Wilson encourages more African Americans to contact the office (314-918-8222) if there is a problem with a family member or individual in a nursing home.
The office has a number of resources that are helpful in finding nursing homes or other long-term care facilities.
Resource #1: State inspection reports
By visiting http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/home.asp, one can look through State inspection reports for each nursing home. The rating system looks at health inspections, nursing home staffing and quality measures. One can also compare a few different nursing homes’ ratings on the Medicare.gov site.
It’s a good place to start, Wilson said.
However, she said it takes three to six months before new inspection results are posted to the site.
“People will look at the five stars and rely too heavily on that,” she said. “Too many things change in a long-term facility. If it was a five-star facility in January, that doesn’t mean in March it’s a five-star facility.”
Resource #2: statement of deficiency survey
Families should take a tour of the facility and ask for the statement of deficiencies survey, which all nursing homes are required to display. This survey is more up-to-date than the State inspection reports.
On the tour, the family should take a non-family member, who isn’t as emotionally attached to the situation, Wilson said. And if possible, take the potential resident.
If possible, the family should visit the home three times at different times of the day.
Resource #3: consumer resource guide
The LTC ombudsman consumer guide has information to make the important decision about long term care.
Included is a check list of things people should take note of when visiting nursing homes. First, are there any offensive odors? Are the people well-groomed? Do the residents seem comfortable around the staff?
The dining area is important to note. Does the food look appetizing and nutritious? Do you see residents just sitting with their meal in front of them – incapable of feeding themselves?
The guide also encourages families to ask if there is a “special care unit” and ask to see the disclosure statement on what qualifies it as being special care.
Warning signs and advocacy
In St. Louis, one of the most heart-breaking calls Wilson gets is the empty promise scenario.
A man or woman enters a nursing home, using their life savings to pay for the costs. The administrators verbally promise the elder that they will provide him or her with a Medicaid bed once their life savings are all dried up. Then that time comes around, and the facility says there are no beds available.
“The resident lived there for years,” she said. “The facility could choose to get a bed for the resident, if they wanted.”
Now the resident has to find another place to live. The person’s choices are limited because, with no private funds, he or she is at the whim of whichever facility has an opening.
Beware of such loose arrangements when entering into a nursing home situation, Wilson warns. Make sure everything is in writing.
When Wilson receives such complaints, she or another ombudsman will investigate the case. If they can’t come to a solution between the patient and the home, then they turn it over to the Department of Health and Human Services.
For more information about the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, visit the office at 8704 Manchester Rd. in Brentwood, or call 314-918-8222. The website address is http://www.ltcop-stl.org.
This is the last article in a three-part series on African-American elders in St. Louis. The series was developed through a fellowship with the New America Media Ethnic Elders program, sponsored by The Atlantic Philanthropies.