Seniors
Before Moving to a Nursing Home
Nursing Home Care
A medical assessment is the best way to determine the level of medical care you or your loved ones need. Sometimes a nursing home is the best option. One can enter a nursing home after being discharged from a hospital, from one's own home, or from another skilled nursing facility. The process of entering depends on which of these routes is followed.
Entering a Nursing Home Following Discharge From the Hospital
These are the steps to take when seniors enter a nursing home upon discharge from a hospital.
- The caretaker or person in charge meets with the hospital
social worker or discharge planner to discuss options. Bring
the senior's
financial information to this first meeting.
-
Depending on the senior's income, a Medicaid application
will be filled out immediately.
The social worker will
help you with the paperwork.
-
With or without Medicaid, the social worker will then arrange
for a PRI/SCREEN.
A PRI is required by law and is valid for 30 days. A PRI determines
the level of care and
type of facility needed. In addition, the
senior's hospital physician will give the social worker
a patient summary.
-
The senior and caretaker choose several different
nursing homes. Sometimes there's no room at the home of
your choice. The social worker will help advise
you.
Seniors
who will pay for their own care will find it easier to be admitted
to the nursing home of their choice.
Medicare
and Medicaid insist that
you
select
several
facilities. Strong Health recommends that you apply to at least
10 nursing homes.
-
The social worker then sends the necessary medical information
to the nursing homes selected.
-
Families and/or caregivers should be prepared to tour the
chosen facilities without any delay. They may also fill
out application
forms
if they like the facility.
-
When a bed is available in one of the selected nursing
homes, the family signs a contract for care. Time is important.
Usually, the senior will be transferred from hospital to nursing
home within 24
hours. State and federal regulations say that if a nursing
home bed is offered but not accepted by the senior, the senior
and
the hospital could be fined.
Entering a Nursing Home From One's Own Home or Another Senior Living Facility,
These are the steps to take when seniors enter a nursing home from their own home or another senior living facility.
- Arrange for a PRI/SCREEN.
A PRI is required by law and is valid for 30 days. A PRI determines
the level of care and
type of facility needed. A nurse will do the PRI on
a fee-for-service basis or it can be paid for by Medicaid.
Call Eldersource at 585-325-2800 for a list
of agencies that can do a PRI.
- Caretakers get a Medical Summary about the senior from the
patient’s
physician.
- Determine the senior's finances. Apply for Medicaid if necessary.
- The senior and caretaker need to make realistic choices
of nursing homes based on the senior's medical needs and
financial resources.
- Contact the nursing homes of your choice. Strong Health recommends
that you apply to at least 10 nursing homes.
After touring as many facilities as you can, apply to those
you prefer. Complete the application and give the admissions
person a copy of the senior's medical summary and PRI/SCREEN.
- After applying, follow up. Contact
the nursing home admissions coordinator once a week to check
on your application.
- If you want help finding a nursing home for a person in your care, geriatric case managers, social workers, community service organizations, and home health agencies are often very helpful.
Helpful Links
For more information about nursing home placement, look at the section on this Web site called Choosing a Nursing Home.