Selecting a Nursing Home

• Ask questions — physicians, friends, relatives and social workers may have information about specific nursing homes in your area to help you locate one with a good reputation.
• Call nursing facilities of interest and ask about the number of residents, cost and participation in Medicare and Medicaid, and about transportation, housekeeping, meals and the special needs of your loved one.
• Be sure that the facility and the facility administrator are licensed by the state.
• Try to find a home that is not far from the resident's doctor and that is near a hospital you trust. Be sure regular medical attention is ensured and that emergency as well as routine drugs are available. Check if there is a physical therapy program run by a qualified physical therapist.
• Visit any place that you are considering and speak with the staff, the residents and relatives of residents, if possible. Check to be sure the building is safe, clean, well lit and has proper handrails.
• Try to choose a facility that is close by and easy for friends and family to visit. Ask about how often relatives and friends may visit and when the resident is permitted to leave the facility.
• Check about the social programs, exercise and activities offered by the facility and decide if they would be enjoyable for the resident. Find out what types of group and individual activities are offered.

• Before you sign the facility's contract, be sure you understand it in full. You may want to have an attorney look it over. Be sure finances will cover the cost of nursing home care.
• Tell the facility about the resident to ensure he or she will be made as comfortable as possible.
• Try to bring a few personal items that are familiar and cherished. Make sure the resident has all the clothing he or she needs. Label clothes with the resident's name.

Administration on Aging (Department of Health and Human Services)
(800) 677-1116
www.aoa.dhhs.gov

National Institute on Aging
(800) 222-2225
www.nia.nih.gov

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
(202) 783-2242
www.aahsa.org

American Health Care Association
(202) 842-4444
www.ahca.org

Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home
www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/nhguide.pdf

Inform Yourself

To find this and previous JAMA Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page Index on JAMA's Web site at www.jama.com. A Patient Page on caregiving was published in the December 14, 1999, issue, one on aging was published in the January 25, 2000, issue, and one on end-of-life care was published in the November 14, 2000, issue.

Sources: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, American Health Care Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Aging Information Center, National Alliance for Caregiving, National Center for Assisted Living

Lise M. Stevens, M.A., Writer
Cassio Lynm, M.A., Illustrator
Richard M. Glass, M.D., Editor

(JAMA. 2001; 286:2498)
Published in JAMA: November 21, 2001

The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be reproduced noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. Any other reproduction is subject to AMA approval. To purchase bulk reprints, call (718) 946-7424.