Going into a nursing care facility – even for a short period of rehabilitation – can be a daunting prospect. However, with a little bit of research, one can find out all they need to know before making the move. One should first look into indicators that are used to measure quality by professional, non-partisan bodies. According to a study undertaken by Nicholas G. Castle and Jamie C. Ferguson that was reported in The Gerontologist, measures that are investigated include: structural measures, processes, and outcomes.
What Castle and Ferguson found was that a lot has changed with nursing care facilities over the years. It used to be the case that one would move into a nursing care facility as a senior and remain there until they passed away. “In recent years, [however] the long-term care sector has changed considerably and is arguably evolving into a ‘system’ in which care can be provided in settings that are more appropriate for consumers’ needs. This includes care by home health providers, adult day care, residential care, and assisted living (to name just four).”
In addition to that evolution, nursing homes today are much more personable. Years ago they were developed through a somewhat military stance, just focused on efficiency. Indeed, in the late 1950s, “the only people to have private bathrooms were those in private rooms,” with the rest sharing hall bathrooms. It was only in the 1970s that this changed and residents got their own bathrooms.
Today, nursing care can be a nurturing experience. It can be short (as in the case of rehab) or long-term care, and the facilities are typically very pleasant. Be sure when checking out a nursing home to carefully review what is on offer and what quality of life patients are offered. Certainly, any person looking for this type of help will want to choose a facility offering both comfort and quality.
