All nursing homes must be licensed by the state in which they operate and are required to comply with standards enforced by regular facility inspections. Georgia is no exception with over 350 Medicare certified nursing homes. Choosing the one to serve your needs can be a difficult task. However, there are online sites that provide valuable information. Narrow down your choices to two or three selections and then go visit them in person.
Five-Star Ratings
The Five-Star Quality Rating System was created to help consumers compare nursing homes easily and help identify areas about which you may want additional information. This rating system is a result of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 and quality improvement campaigns. Nursing home ratings are created using information taken from inspections, staffing ratios and quality measures. Ratings are listed as from a low score of one star to a high score of five stars. Thirty-eight facilities in Georgia are scored at five stars.
State Inspections
Georgia conducts inspections of Medicare and Medicaid participating nursing homes once a year. If the nursing home performs poorly, the state inspectors may evaluate more often. The inspectors observe for resident care processes and environment. There are over 150 regulations that nursing homes must meet. These regulations cover many aspects of resident life, including care, nutrition and environmental issues. Depending upon the outcome of the inspections, actions can be taken against the nursing home. The inspection results are available online.
Quality Measures
Quality measures for Georgia nursing homes are obtained from data that measures the quality of certain aspects of nursing home care. Information included reflects the percentage of residents in pain, that have pressure sores or who are physically restrained. Medicare tracks and reports each nursing home's scores for these quality measures.
Nursing Home Checklist
The Five Star Quality Rating System found online is not a substitute for visiting the nursing homes. However, this system can help you compare nursing homes and help you think of questions to ask when you visit the facility.
One of the most important things to do when visiting the nursing homes you are considering is to bring a checklist. It should include areas to assess such as characteristics, appearance of residents and personnel, staff interactions and the general environment.
Final Decisions
According to the website Physicians for a National Health Program, a published study in July 2009 found that nonprofit nursing homes deliver a higher level of care. In 2007, only 24 percent of Georgia's nursing homes were nonprofit. 68 percent of Georgia's nursing homes were for profit and 8 percent were government owned. Keep these figures in mind during your selection.
In addition, contact your Long-Term Care Ombudsman or State Survey Agency before making any final decisions.
