How To Choose A Nursing Home Facility As loved ones age, they may need full-time care at some point. Choosing a quality environment in which your loved ones may thrive with a happy, stable life is one of the most important steps in finding a nursing home. This will not only benefit them, but you as well. There are several things to look for when choosing a great care center for your aging loved ones to assure that the place you have chosen will provide them with the utmost of care at this stage of their life. VISIT THE FACILITY Take a tour of the facility before anything else. Upon touring the facility you should get a good vibe from the center. This will allow a first-hand insight to what is going on inside of the facility. There are a few things to look for while taking a tour. It should be cleaned, properly staffed, and all of the residents' needs should be getting met. You may want to pay attention to some of the people who already stay there as well. Do they look happy and cared for? These things should all be taken into consideration. You might also want to take the patient with you to this tour. Since they will be the ones living there, getting their opinions of the place is extremely important. They should feel welcomed, safe, and that it is a place that will provide positive living for them. Most nursing home facilities will be more than willing to provide you with a tour of their homes. Once you have toured the building, a sit-down with a staff member is needed. This will provide the opportunity to ask any and all questions that you may have or address any special needs of the patient. ASK OTHER PEOPLE It may be possible to find a relative of a patient currently in the nursing home and find out what their opinions of the place are. You can ask questions pertaining to the staff and care of the residents, and ask their feelings of placing your loved one in the facility. More often than not relatives will be more than happy to assist you with this as they know first-hand how difficult the decision is. ASK THE DOCTOR After taking a tour and talking with other residents family members still leaves you undecided about a particular facility, talk with the family physician who has been providing care for the patient. Perhaps they will be able to provide suggestions for a good nursing home in the area, or give you further information about the facility you are looking at. The physician will probably be able to provide a couple of different recommendations, and if the patient has special needs can provide a center that will be properly suited to treat those needs. Making the decision to place your loved one in a nursing home is never easy, and choosing a center that will meet all of your expectations is even more difficult. It is imperative to choose the best facility possible for your loved one. Research and diligence will always pay off in this very hard decision, and within time, you are sure to find the facility that is perfect for your loved one and all of their needs. Knowing that your loved one is receiving the best possible care at the best possible facility is a decision that will make you proud for many years to come. How to Choose a Physical Therapist Physical therapy has incredible power to alleviate pain and increase function. Whether you have pain in the shoulders, neck, knees, back, or other joints, physical therapy can help manage or relieve it. Usually, physical therapy is a necessity for aftersurgery care. With the proper planning and a bit of determination, you can find a great physical therapy provider that is best suited for your care. Commonly, insurance companies require that a person attempt physical therapy before getting an expensive surgery of some sort. Sometimes, participation in a physical therapy program can actually negate any need for surgery. Unfortunately, many patients suffer from degenerative disc problems in the back. This sort of problem usually would require surgery, but many people find that physical therapy eases pressure on the lower back. Physical therapy works to strengthen core muscles in the lower back, which adds to a person's overall wellness. At other times, physical therapy is part of a recovery process for surgery. For example, if a person has suffered surgery to fix a rotator cuff, then physical therapy will be a huge part of the successful recovery of that surgery. Physical therapy will help a person regain a full range of motion for joints that are replaced or after injury. March 2011 Good physical therapy treatments are also necessary for other sorts of injuries and surgeries. A person with a finger re-attached will need to practice some form of physical therapy to regain use of the finger. A person who has been an invalid for weeks or months will require physical therapy in regaining their mobility. With a good therapist's aid and a patient's determination to do follow-through exercises at home, a patient can often find that he or she feels a total recovery and is able to enjoy life again. When choosing a good physical therapist, you should first see what requirements are in place from your insurance company. You will have to usually pick a therapist that is in-network, rather than out-of-network. You should feel comfortable with whatever physical therapist you choose. A physical therapist may have to evaluate parts of your body to see if there is swelling or heat in that part. A therapist may also massage a patient's muscles as part of the therapy. You should directly ask a therapist about their experience and education. You will not be able to obtain references, but you can see if the therapist has the appropriate license to practice. You can also choose to contact a state board of physical therapy to see if any complaints have been filed regarding the physical therapist you have cho- sen to work with. A physical therapist is there to help a patient regain his or her independence. For older people especially, a physical therapist can be a critical component in this role. Often, families will make older people feel dependent and enable their dependence. A physical therapist is the one to show an older person that he or she can truly be independent and does not always need help from family members. Finding a good physical therapist does not have to be difficult after considering these tips. www.havredailynews.com 28