Are you looking for a nursing home for an aging parent or some other loved one? You can get quality indicators on nursing homes in the U.S. by going to www.medicare.gov/ or calling Medicare at 800-633-4227. On the Web site, 10 quality measures are shown: six for long-term nursing home residents and four for short-stay residents.
For long-term residents, who live in the homes an average of two to three years, there are data showing the percentage with pain, infections and in physical restraints.
For short-term patients, who stay an average of three to four weeks, the data show how many maintain or improve the ability to walk while at the home, as well as the percentage with delirium and pain.
Information also is available on staffing levels, deficiencies found during annual inspections, and complaint investigations.
However, such information should not be the sole reason for choosing a nursing home. Before making any commitments, you should talk to residents and get information from the long-term care ombudsmen’s office in your state.
