What qualifications and certifications should I look for in a long-term care provider?
When considering any provider, it's important to look for certain qualifications and certifications to ensure quality care. For nursing homes or hospice providers, start by verifying that the provider is licensed and meets the regulatory requirements set by the appropriate governing bodies in your region which indicate adherence to high standards of care. These qualifications and certifications can be viewed on the website under the specific facility you are researching by selecting Facility Description.
Additionally, check the facility’s 5- star ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by clicking on At-A-Glance under your search results. Facilities with five stars are considered to have well above average quality, and those with one star are considered to have well below average quality. For more information about CMS Ratings, visit the CMS website.
What about qualifications for home health providers?
For those searching for home health care, the website provides quality of care ratings for home health services that utilize skilled professionals to support managing one’s daily activities, treating symptoms, preventing harm and providing the best care possible to prevent unplanned hospital care. By contacting a home health care service provider directly, you can learn more about their care professional’s skills and qualifications.
How do long-term care providers ensure the safety and security of residents? How can this data be used to understand safety and security for residents?
Long-term care providers prioritize the safety and security of their residents through various measures. These include implementing safety protocols, conducting regular safety inspections, ensuring proper staffing levels, providing emergency response systems, and maintaining secure environments. The ratings search tool on this site compares the scores of different nursing homes across three key metric groups – staffing, quality of care and health and safety inspections. The higher the rating (average, above average or superior), the higher the safety standards are for that facility. You can view these metrics by selecting Health and Safety Inspections under your specific provider’s search results. Clicking on the ? icon next to each section will provide you with specific details about each metric.
How do I compare specific providers on the website?
The introductory guide provides step by step instructions for navigating the website. Start by selecting the type of care from the drop down menu or directly typing in your zip code or the name of a care provider in the search bar. You can search for and save up to six individual providers and use the Compare Providers function to perform a side-by-side direct comparison. Compare the ratings and measures for each provider by selecting View All from the menu to the left of the provider’s profile. Comparing facilities and speaking with trusted resources is just one step in your journey. We encourage individuals to visit any facilities in person, talk to their primary care provider and other staff members, and involve your loved one in the decision-making process to ensure they are making a well-informed choice that aligns with their needs and preferences.