TUESDAY, Nov. 12, 2002 (HealthDayNews) -- After years of preparation, the U.S. government has developed an Internet program that compares the qualities of all 17,000 assisted living facilities in the United States that qualify for federal Medicare payments.
The site, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Human Services, is called Nursing Home Compare, and it's a relatively easy device to use.
Four general areas are cited for the comparison:
- Basic information (size, cost, general facilities)
- Resident appearance
- Nursing home living spaces
- Staff (size, quality, hours, etc.)
HHS officials warn that while useful, the comparisons don't take into account all the nuances and individual characteristics of specific operations. "These quality measures are only one thing to consider when deciding about nursing home care," the message on the Nursing Home Compare site says.
"In addition to the quality measures, you should consider whether or not the nursing home meets your specific needs (for example, an Alzheimer's unit). Finally and most importantly, you should visit nursing homes in order to meet the care team (nurses, certified nursing assistants and therapists), watch the care that is given, and see firsthand the quality of living conditions and the general nursing home environment."
More information
In addition to the Nursing Home Compare Web site, the U.S. government also has information for those who are considering an alternative to assisted living centers.
