Dual "Good Life" Survey of Families and Nursing Home Residents

While we commonly hear of the negative impact and horrific stories of abuse, many nursing homes, today, are reporting positive feedback from nursing home residents. In addition to nursing home residents, many families are also providing feedback that is positive, especially in nursing home facilities that have taken pride and ownership in their success of healthcare delivery.

With our aging adult population continuing to increase, many adult children are making the life altering decision to place an aging parent into a nursing home. Wanting to provide a good life for our parents, we struggle with the decision and fear for the care and safety of our aging parent in the nursing home setting.

Because many nursing homes have been labeled as a location of poor health quality, nursing home directors across the country have banded together to survey residents and families about their impression in the quality of care. In most cases, when the family can report management of an aging parent's depression, promotion of nutrition and avoidance of pressure sores and ulcers, the care is considered good.

For nursing home residents, however, there is a desire for something more. Understanding this, nursing home directors look to their residents for feedback as well. To be considered a quality nursing home, the residents, themselves, often report they feel uplifted and happy with their placement when the nursing home treats them with dignity, respect, provides security and comfort, provide engaging activities and respect their privacy when it is time to do so.

When considering the placement of a loved one into a nursing home, it is important took look at the dual approach to survey. Ask the nursing home about a list of references or surveys that have been taken to determine if residents and their families are finding their needs are being met. While the very essential healthcare is normally provided, it is this added approach to uplifting the spirits of the nursing home resident and family that provide for a better outcome for your aging parent.