Issue link: https://www.newlifestylesdigital.com/i/814530
How do the residents feel about living there? Are you permitted to talk with residents encountered during your tour of the community? Does the tour staff speak to the residents, calling them by name? Look closely at the exchanges between resident and staff. Talk to the residents about how long they have lived in the facility and what they like best or least. Does the place look like a hospital or nursing facility? Are there obvious nurses' stations, medical carts in the halls, staff in white uniforms? Healthcare should be present and attentive, but almost invisible. How much training do they give their direct caregivers, the people who give assistance with ADLs? How much do caregivers know about symptoms of change, and about the psychology of community building and communications skills? Caregivers should go through intensive training at the beginning of their employment. They should have frequent on-going in-service training on a wide range of topics. What is the staff turnover rate? Can residents expect to be seeing familiar faces giving them care? Obviously, a place where staff members enjoy their work has a better emotional climate for residents as well. So look at the employees, and talk with them directly during your tour. Discerning the value factor among a large number of facilities requires the smart consumer to rely on intuitive skills. These questions should help you focus on the essence of any facility. Look beyond the pretty interior to find that facility which most closely reflects and satisfies your perspective of the highest level of care and service for our highly regarded seniors. Marie Sandvig, RN, MSN is Director of Clinical and Program Operations for RSI, Inc.'s Caring Community Program. She has been involved in elder care for more than 15 years. 59