The idea of putting your elderly parent or an adult needing care in a nursing home or adult daycare facility is something most people may hesitate to consider. After all, here in the Philippines, we have a close-knit family culture wherein we care for our elderly parents. However, this can prove to be challenging for many families, especially those who are in a sandwich generation. There are facilities that provide adult daycare, nursing home, and assisted living services, giving you plenty of options and choices depending on your needs. Furthermore, you may be surprised to consider that having full-time care in a safe and secure facility may really be the best option for your loved one, especially when it provides 24-hour, high-quality care.

Choosing the Right Nursing Home or Adult Daycare

So how do you know which facility is right for you? If you’re considering an elderly home in Manila or an adult daycare facility near you, here are some things you should know:

• Proximity. The closer a facility is to your home, the more likely that you’ll be able to visit or check in on their care. While we know that there’s a pandemic, visiting in close proximity may be a challenge, but make sure that there are safety and health guidelines in place to protect your elderly loved ones in the facility. And even if you can’t visit them, you may still check in on them with the staff, which can also provide convenience.
• Welcoming atmosphere. Don’t settle on a nursing home based on the look of the building, courtyards, common spaces or rehabilitation units. Check out photos of the facilities and see if this truly provides a safe, warm, welcoming, and home-like environment.
• Safety. You want a facility that’s well maintained and are fitted with safety fixtures for your loved ones. From the building to the furnishings and equipment, you must entrust your loved ones to facilities that keep these things as top priority. Note signs of wear and tear that can present hazards or discomfort.
• Adequate staffing. Sufficient staffing is crucial for your loved one’s health. Check if there’s a good and adequate number of professionals in the nursing home staff. Check if there are physicians, registered nurses, family counselors, certified nursing assistants and aides, physical therapists, and other professionals that are also providing services and value to your loved ones’ stay.
• Compassion. Talk to the management and the staff to gauge how compassionate and dedicated they are with what they do. What is daily life like inside, and how do the staff treat the residents? These are things you should consider and look out for.
• Staff retention. Heavy turnover is an obvious indication of unhappy workers, whose dissatisfaction could mean worse care. Check how stable the management and the culture is, as this can reflect on how they provide care to their residents. Look for continuity and low turnover, which spells stable infrastructure.
• Consistent assignment. Ask administrators and other staffers if caregivers work with the same residents every time the caregivers are on duty. This is called consistent assignment. It helps caregivers better understand residents’ needs so they can provide better care. It also helps residents feel more secure and comfortable.
• Good interaction with residents. You can pick up signs that staff members respect and care about residents in the small interactions between them. For example, do nurses knock before entering a room? Do staffers address residents casually and impersonally or politely and by name? How warm and respectful are the staff?
• Flexible visitation. Before the pandemic, the best nursing homes offered open visiting hours. Nowadays, think about how they ensure safety within the facility? Do they observe stringent health and protective measures? If visitations are not allowed, does the facility think of other ways so that their residents will still be able to communicate with their family, such as the use of technology? Look for a nursing home that makes an effort to allow residents to see their loved ones.
• Interesting activities for residents. Mindless games shouldn’t dominate the schedule. Look for a nursing home offering many kinds of social and engaging activities that will help keep the residents’ minds sharp. Do they have a program of activities to help the residents stay sharp? Are there activities that promote their health and well-being? Do they have outdoor activities? Will a staff member take someone in a wheelchair outside?
• Meaningful tasks. Some nursing homes give capable residents opportunities to engage in the meaningful tasks they once did at home. For example, they could include deliver mail, bring water pitchers to residents or read to others. Check if the facilities have this to keep the residents having a purpose or something to look forward to and have a sense of accomplishment.
• Decision-making opportunities. Your loved one should have some say in his or her care, such as sleep and wake times, which activities to take part in, what to wear and what to eat. Ask if residents are permitted during the pandemic to socialize and eat together during meal times, and if they’re allowed to eat in their room if they prefer eating alone.

The Best Care Feels Like Home

At Blessed Home, we provide adult daycare, assisted living, and adult daycare that allows you to be more flexible and choose the type of care that your family member needs.

Blessed Home prioritizes not just safety and high-quality care, but a type of service that makes our residents feel well cared for and right at home.

Talk to us today to learn more.