A Simplified Guide to Choosing a Long-Term Care Community
Choosing a long-term care home can feel overwhelming. The main goal is to find a place that fits the specific needs of your loved one. The Larimer County Ombudsman Program put together these tips and questions to help you choose the right one.
Where to Start
- Figure out what matters most: Every care building has its own personality, strengths, and weaknesses. Decide what qualities are most important to the person who will be living there.
- Take a tour: Always visit potential homes with your loved one before making a final choice. It will give you a real look at how things run and can ease your fears.
- Visit multiple times: See as many homes as possible. Sit down and watch how the workers talk to the residents.
- Go at different times: Try visiting a second time on a weekend or during the evening. You want to make sure the building is just as good when the weekday bosses aren't around.
What to Look For
When you tour a building, pay close attention to your surroundings. Ask yourself:
- Are the workers and residents talking to each other in a warm, kind way?
- Do the managers actually know the residents by name and understand what they need?
- Are the bedrooms, hallways, and dining tables clean?
- Do the residents look clean, well-brushed, well-fed, and safe from injuries?
- Do the residents seem awake, alert, and happy?
- Does the building smell clean, or are there unpleasant odors?
- When a resident presses their call light for help, do workers respond quickly?
- If residents are calling out for help, does someone come to assist them right away?
- Does the food look good to eat?
- Are residents doing fun or meaningful activities, either together or on their own?
Questions to Ask Staff
- Is there enough help on every shift to take good care of the residents?
- What kinds of activities can residents participate in?
- Do the same workers get assigned to the same residents every day?
- How much training do the workers get?
- How does the facility make sure families have a say in the care plan?
- What does the company do to keep employees from quitting so residents don't constantly get new caregivers?
- How long has the current boss (administrator) been running this facility?
- Has the building changed owners or management recently?
- Does the facility provide rides to activities out in the community?
- What kind of physical or mental therapy is available?
- Is there a resident or family club (council) where people can share ideas?
- What happens if a resident has a complaint or a problem?
- Do residents get to help choose their roommates?
- Who decides where people sit during meals?
- Is there a professional social worker on staff?
Questions to Ask Current Residents
- Does the staff respect your wishes about your schedule (like when you want to go to bed, take a bath, or eat)?
- If you are awake at night, does someone come check on you?
- Do you get the same nursing assistant most days of the week?
- Do workers listen and respond when you ask for something?
- Can you get snacks whenever you want them?
- Do you get to participate in meetings about your own care?
- Have you ever had any of your personal belongings go missing?
- Who fixes problems around here, and do they actually help you?
- What is the absolute best and worst thing about living here?
Additional Information
Every facility is inspected by CDPHE. Copies of these official inspection reports must be kept inside the building itself. You can also get them from the ombudsman or look them up on the CDPHE website. These reports show history, patterns, and safety concerns that might still be happening.
To contact the Larimer County Ombudsman Program, please call 970-498-7754 or email ombudsman@larimer.org.
