Selecting a Nursing Home in New York State - A Guide for Consumers
Nursing homes primarily provide three types of services: Skilled Nursing or medical care and related services; Short-Term Rehabilitation needed due to injury, disability or illness; and Long-Term Care, which is health-related care and services (above the level of room and board) not available in the community, needed regularly due to a mental or physical condition.
The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) supports a wide range of alternatives to nursing home care. Depending on your needs and resources, you may be able to get the services and supports you need in your own home (e.g., home care, home health care, meal programs) or in other types of community housing (e.g., Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Assisted Living, Adult Homes). Community services may also help with your personal care and activities to support you staying at home (e.g., adult day health care, senior centers, visitor programs). However, in some instances, the level of medical, nursing and psychosocial care that nursing homes provide may be the most appropriate to meet your needs. After you have explored the alternatives and you, your family and involved health care professionals agree that a nursing home is an appropriate care setting, it is important that you take care in selecting a facility that fits your needs.
Selecting a Nursing Home in New York State: A Guide for Consumers is intended to help you make informed decisions should nursing home care become necessary. The Guide is written for you as the prospective resident. NYS DOH strongly supports patient/resident participation in decision making. If someone else must organize the search and make the decisions, you should be as involved as much as possible in the process.
The information is presented in two sections:
- Section I provides general information about nursing homes.
- Section II provides information on what to look for when you visit a nursing home.
- A Glossary of commonly used terms is also included.
This Guide provides general information about nursing homes. It does not present all applicable statutes, regulations and rulings, nor does it endorse any particular nursing home. The information in this Guide should be carefully considered with other information you gather about nursing homes.
Table of Contents
- Section I: General Information About Nursing Homes
- Section II: What to Look for When You Visit a Nursing Home
- Visiting the Facility
- Physical Appearance
- Safety
- Cleanliness
- Daily Living/Socialization/Recreation
- Room Assignments
- Food and Dining
- Medical/Nursing Care
- Special Therapies
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
- Mental Illness, Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disability Services
- Pediatric Units
- Activities Program
- Staffing
- Pastoral Care
- Personal Property
- Financial Arrangements
- Nursing Home Quality of Service Delivery
- Glossary
- Appendices