Working with Nursing Home Staff in Connecticut

When you decide to move your loved one into a care facility, you might be nervous about this new chapter. You want your loved one to be happy and healthy. You also are probably dealing with some sadness that this change brings. But, there are a lot of things that you can do to make this transition easier for your family. One thing that you can do is work with the nursing home staff during this time. The staff are there to make sure that your family is comfortable with this decision. They are also there to take care of your loved one. You can make sure that both of these things happen by interacting with the staff and keeping communication open. Here are some tips for working with the nursing home staff.

Before Move In

Before you decide on a nursing home, you should get to know the nursing home staff. You can do this by:

• Visiting the nursing home. Visiting the nursing home and interacting with staff members can help you get a feel for what the home is like. This can confirm that you will be comfortable with the staff or steer you away from the home.
• Interviewing staff members. Be sure to talk to staff members when you visit the home. This will establish a relationship that you can maintain during your loved one’s time at the home.
• Providing your loved one’s personal and medical information. Be sure to give the staff your loved one’s information. This will make sure that they have what they need to treat your loved one. It will also give them the information that they need to contact your family and connect with your loved one on a personal level.

During the Move In Process

• Create a care plan for your loved one. Making sure that your loved one has a care plan will ensure that they are treated properly. Go over the care plan with the staff and make sure that everything is correct.
• Give the staff your personal information. You can give the staff your cell phone number and tell them to call you if there are any problems. This will hold the staff responsible to you. It will also show them that you are invested in your loved one’s well being and you want to be kept up-to-date.
• Contact the nursing home frequently. During the transition period, you can call or email the staff once a week to check in with them. Again, this will ensure the staff members that you will be checking up on them to make sure that they are doing their job. This can also foster a personal relationship between your family and staff members.

After Move In

When the move in process is over, this does not mean that you should stop communicating with the nursing home staff! You can still send emails or call the home every once in a while to check in. Keep the staff up-to-date on your loved one’s medical and personal information. The staff should do the same for you if they become aware of any changes. You can also visit the nursing home to check in with your loved one and foster a relationship with the staff.
Establishing a relationship with the nursing home staff members will accomplish many things. It can put your mind at ease as your family goes through this transition. It can also help the staff put a face to the name and provide more unique care to your loved one. This can also provide a natural check on the staff members. They will realize that they can’t get away with bending the rules when it comes to your loved one because you will be on top of the situation. Establishing this relationship with the staff can make this process easier on your family.