Nursing homes have come a long way. Instead of merely offering caretaking and medical services, many of them now focus on improving quality of life for their residents. Here are 5 ways to tell whether a nursing home is good or truly great.
1) Environment. A great nursing home will provide bright, welcoming spaces for residents. Look for lots of windows that let in natural light and outdoor views. Are there comfortable furniture, personalized temperature and air flow controls in each room, attractive color choices and adequate public spaces to receive visitors? Is there room to maneuver wheelchairs and other mobility devices easily?
2) Cleanliness. Look for clean bathrooms, emptied wastebaskets, de-cluttered surfaces and promptly-cleared food trays. Are resident clothes and linens are freshly laundered and hung/folded? Are floors, counters and equipment are regularly cleaned and disinfected?
3) Food. Research tells us that food plays a major role in emotional wellbeing. A great nursing home will serve healthy, flavorful food and give residents meaningful choices about what they eat and when. Residents will be allowed to have their own snacks and treats available, as medically appropriate. Residents will have food and beverages available to them outside of scheduled mealtimes. Special diets will be accommodated.
4) Social Interaction. Isolation is an enemy to wellbeing. Look for a varied schedule of activities including outings to the community. Does the facility have relationships with local schools or other children's programming? Are there pets at the facility to encourage interaction? Are residents permitted to have live plants in their rooms? A great nursing home will help residents connect as much as they can with other people and living things.
5) Autonomy. Many nursing home patients can still do some things for themselves. A great nursing home nurtures each resident's independence, whether through physical activity, personalized scheduling or supportive services. Staff will encourage residents to do as much as they can, and will cooperate with them to maximize their capacity for self-care.
Finding a great nursing home takes time and attention. Using these 5 criteria will simplify and speed up the process.
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Creating Community at a Place Called Home
Experience the spectacular beauty of the southern Arizona desert
At Arroyo Gardens, we’ve created a community of people who are invested in each other’s success, happiness and comfort. Set against the allure of the Santa Rita Mountains, our community offers resort-style living combined with a staff of professional caregivers and nurses able to provide a variety of care services. It’s a place you’ll be proud to call “home.”
Discover art galleries, eclectic shops and restaurants in nearby Tubac, AZ. Explore the recreational destination of Madera Canyon located only 13 miles away. Madera Canyon offers nature walks, birding, picnicking, and hiking among the mountains, seasonal streams, plants, and wildlife. Enjoy the nightlife at nearby Desert Diamond Casino offering slots, table games, and fine dining. At just a four hour drive, Puerto Penasco, Mexico is a great beach destination on the Sea of Cortes. Enjoy lavish resorts, pool side fun, golfing and sandy beaches in this paradise.
Whether you’re simply looking for a maintenance-free lifestyle that allows you to explore your passions, or you need a little assistance with managing daily tasks, you’ll find a community of people dedicated to your well-being.
More about Arroyo Gardens Independent & Assisted Living.This content has been submitted by authors outside of this publisher and is not its editorial product. It could contain opinions, facts, and points of view that have not been reviewed or accepted by the publisher.