Nobody wants to have to make the decision to put their loved one in an Alzheimer's care facility, even when it becomes clear that this is best. Despite how difficult the process may be, though, you can ensure that your loved one is getting the best care possible by knowing what things to ask about Alzheimer's care facilities.
Staff Training
What kind of care your loved one receives is directly dependent upon the staff. The Alzheimer's Association and several other organizations offer numerous training courses and even certifications in Alzheimer's care for nurses, nurses aides and other long-term care facility staff, so be sure to ask about this and about the overall level of staff experience with questions like:
Is your staff certified or formally trained in Alzheimer's care?
How long have most of your staff members worked here? (If a lot of the staff members are fairly new, within the last six to nine months, you should be wary and investigate further.)
What kind of patient-to-staff ratio do you have?
Are staff members consistently assigned to the same patients? (This is important because most Alzheimer's patients do not adapt well to change, even if it seems they do not remember staff. Staff who know the patient well will be able to handle problems more effectively or notice changes more quickly.)
Daily Activities
Of course, you'll want to know that your loved one isn't simply sitting in her room all day and so you should inquire into the daily activities the facility has available. Be sure to take the opportunity to talk with the facility Activities Director and ask things like:
Can I see a schedule of today's or this week's activities?
Will you arrange individual activities for my loved one, if desired?
What if my loved one becomes impatient or leaves the activity in the middle?
Will you come and get my loved one for activities if he is not ambulatory (in a wheelchair)?
Do the patients ever go outdoors or to other places, and if so, what security measures are in place?
Policies Regarding Falls, Injuries and Conflict Between Patients
Many Alzheimer's patients are prone to falls and injuries due to decreased equilibrium and the mere forgetfulness to be careful, and it is important to know what the facility's policy is regarding falls. For example:
Will you notify me every time if there is an injury or only if my loved one requires hospitalization?
What measures do you take to prevent falls or injuries?
Additionally, sometimes the nature of this disease causes individuals to become combative with staff or other patients, and although facilities do everything they can to try and prevent any injury to other residents from a combative patient, there is the risk that this could occur. Be sure to discuss this with facility administrators and staff, including asking:
What is the policy regarding combative patients? How is this handled?
What would happen if my loved one became combative, would he be forced to leave the facility?
What would happen if my loved one was injured by another patient? Would I be notified of this?
General Inquiries
Of course, it is also important to ask the questions you would ask of any other kind of long-term facility regarding your loved one's care. For instance, how much help does your loved one need with things like showering, dressing, eating, etc., and what level of care does this facility provide? Additionally, you should ask questions like:
Who can I call if I have questions? Can I call my loved one anytime?
What are visiting hours, or can I come at any time?
Will my loved one share a room, and what would happen if she and her roommate did not get along?
How often will my loved one receive a shower or get her hair done?
When are mealtimes? What if my loved one does not eat, or wants something to eat outside of scheduled mealtimes?
Are there any restrictions on the kind of items my loved one can have in his or her room (i.e., TVs, jewelry, glass figurines, etc.)?
Will my loved one still be able to see their current doctor or will we have to switch to a facility physician?
Also, it is very important to check out the facilities ratings by the state and regulatory boards. Reports regarding the safety, cleanliness, and overall functioning of the facility can be found online at the U.S. government's Medicare website.
Tags: your loved, Alzheimer care, staff members, would happen, Alzheimer patients