How to Find a Nursing Home for Someone With Parkinson's Disease

Because people who suffer from Parkinson's disease can be younger, it is especially important to find a facility with people who are close to them in age.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Ask what the age range is when looking for a facility for someone with Parkinson's disease. If the person is not yet a senior, you will want to search out facilities that have younger populations so the person does not feel isolated.
2. Seek out a facility that has other residents who also suffer from Parkinson's or similar disabilities.
3. Does the facility have appropriate grab rails and wheelchair ramps, so that people with Parkinson's can maintain as much independence as possible on their unit?
4. Check to make sure the facility does not charge extra money for transportation and that the resident will be able to get out often to see his or her physician for regular checkups.
5. Talk to your family member's physician or social worker for referrals when choosing a facility.
6. Take the marketing tours of prospective care facilities. Talk to staff and residents alike, asking about staffing levels, staff credentials and qualifications, meals, employee drug screening and employee background checks.
7. Look at online directories of senior care (assisted living and nursing) facilities such as Senior Care Review, Care Guide(888-389-8839), New Lifestyles (800-820-3013) and Senior Alternatives(800-350-0770) for senior facilities.

Tips & Warnings

• Medicare may pay 100 percent of the first 20 days a person stays in a nursing home and then a portion of the next 80 days. After that the person must pay out of pocket for skilled nursing attention.
• Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) does cover skilled nursing facilities for those who are eligible. In some states it may also cover assisted living facilities.