Nursing Homes

Some people need nursing facility care temporarily, to recuperate after an illness or hospital stay. Others need long-term care and may live in a nursing facility for an extended period. It is important to find a facility that meets individual needs and preferences while enhancing the quality of life and providing quality care.

This section of the Web site offers the guidance and tools necessary for you to evaluate your nursing home alternatives.

• Payment explains the various ways to cover the cost of nursing home care.

• Know Your Rights explains the various legal protections residents have, and how residents, guardians, or family members can evaluate and act on any concerns.

• Additional Help helps you find the right people or groups who can support you through the process.

• About the Ratings tells you how we rate the facilities. All of the skilled nursing facilities in California are included in these ratings.

	For guidance in finding the best facility for your needs, see "Guide to Choosing a Nursing Facility." For help with preparing for an initial visit to a nursing facility, see "Preparing for an Initial Visit to a Nursing Facility." And for help with recording information to compare nursing facilities after visiting them, see the "Checklist for Evaluating a Nursing Facility."

This Web site also offers similar guidance should you find that your needs might better be met by home health care or hospice services. And if you want them, it helps you locate other options for care, all available in the sections on the left side of this page.

If you'd like to go directly to ratings for nursing homes, choose "Nursing Homes" from the drop-down menu at the top of this page and enter a Zip Code, or click on "More Search Options" for other ways to find a facility.

Nursing Home eTool

Click on the area for more specific information.

Common safety and health topics:

Hazard Communication Standard Hazardous Drugs During Preparation Handling Practices Hazardous Drugs During Administration Hazardous Drugs During Care Giving

Disposal of Hazardous Drugs Hazardous Drugs During Storage Latex Allergy Ergonomics Workplace Violence

Virtual Reality Review the hazards and then tour the virtual reality room.

Hazard Communication Standard

Potential Hazard Exposure to hazardous chemicals and drugs due to untrained or unaware workers: Personnel who are not aware of proper work practices and controls may be exposed to hazardous drugs through the skin, mouth, or by inhalation. The OSHA Technical Manual provides guidance regarding the adverse health effects from hazardous drugs, ranging from nausea and dizziness, to adverse pregnancy outcomes (OTM vi.2.3). Possible Solutions: Implement a written program which meets the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard for employees handling or otherwise exposed to chemicals, including drugs that represent a health hazard to employees. The written program must provide for worker training, warning labels, and access to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs). Employees must be informed of the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard including: Any operation/procedure in their work area where drugs that present a hazard are present. The location and availability of the written hazard communication program. Any operations or procedure in their work area where other HD's are present. The location and availability of any other plan regarding HD's. The HCS only applies to pharmaceuticals that the drug manufacturer has determined to be hazardous and that are known to be present in the workplace in such a manner that employees are exposed under normal conditions of use or in a foreseeable emergency [OSHA Interpretation Letter (1994, March 3)]. There are exemptions to the standard such as: Drugs that are in solid, final form for direct administration to the patient, e.g., tablets, or pills [1910.1200(b)(6)(vii)]. Final form exemption would also apply to tablets or pills that are occasionally crushed, if the pill or tablet is not designed to be dissolved or crushed prior to administration. Consumer products that are subjected to the labeling requirements of the terms as defined in the Consumer Product Safety Act and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act [1910.1200(b)(5)(v)]. Chemicals with any of the following characteristics are considered hazardous: carcinogenic, corrosive, toxic or highly toxic, irritating, sensitizing, or target organ effecting. [Hazard Communication Standard Appendix A and chemicals listed in 1910.1000 Table 2]. Both human and animal data are to be used in this determination. The Hazard Communication Standard, Appendix B lists sources of toxicity information. The OSHA Technical Manual provides recommendations for characterizing hazardous drugs. Some Common Drugs Considered Hazardous App. VI:2-1. Some Aerosolized Drugs App. VI: 2-2. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) also provides an annually updated list of drugs considered hazardous. Appendix A - Drugs considered Hazardous. Provide readily available Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for all hazardous chemicals, including hazardous drugs that meet the Hazard Communication Standard criteria. All personnel involved in any aspect of the handling of covered hazardous drugs (physicians, nurses, pharmacists, housekeepers, employees involved in receiving, transport or storage) must receive information and training to apprise them of the hazards presented by hazardous drugs in the work area, [OTM5.A.2] including the following: Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of an HCS-covered hazardous drug in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of covered HD's being released, etc.). The physical and health hazards of the covered HD's in the work area. The measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards. This includes specific procedures that the employer has implemented to protect the employees from exposure to such drugs, such as identification of covered drugs and those to be handled as hazardous, appropriate work practices, emergency procedures (for spills or employee exposure). Personal protective equipment, and the details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation of the labeling system and the MSDS, and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information. The Hazard Communication Standard requires that drugs posing a health hazard (with the exception of those in solid, final form for direct administration to the patient, i.e., tablets, or pills), be included on the list of hazardous chemicals to which employees are exposed [Hazard Communication Standard and Pharmaceuticals OSHA Standard Interpretation and Compliance Letters (01/03/1994)]. Any workplace exposure record created in connection with HD handling shall be kept, transferred, and made available for at least 30 years and medical records shall be kept for the duration of employment plus 30 years in accordance with the Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). Other Recommended Good Work Practice: Develop, implement and maintain a written hazardous drug safety and health plan to protect those employees who handle or are otherwise exposed to drugs that pose a health hazard to them. The OSHA Technical Manual Part V, A#1, offers guidance in the development of a drug safety and health plan. Nursing stations on floors where hazardous drugs will be administered should have spill and emergency skin and eye decontamination kits available and relevant MSDSs for guidance. A list of drugs covered by hazardous drug policies and information on spill and emergency contact procedures should be posted or easily available to employees. For additional information, see HealthCare Wide Hazards - Hazardous Chemicals. Additional Information: Hazard Communication, Safety and Health Topics Page. How does the Hazard Communication Standard apply to pharmaceutical drugs. FAQ's for the Hazard Communication Standard.

Nursing Home Information Site

It is our desire to help others with problems or questions related to nursing homes, Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance, patient rights, advance treatment directives, etc.

Please explore this site for answers to your questions regarding nursing homes or a related topic. If you have a state specific question, please call your state ombudsman. No question is a dumb question when it involves a loved one. This web site is here to help you! A free service, no strings attached. We care for the elderly and want to make sure they ALL get the best care possible.

Sincerely,

Gary Hickerson, MSSW CEO (20 years experience as a nursing home Social Worker)

Email Questions To: NursingHomeInformationSite@gmail.com

The nursing home abuse and neglect resource center for the elderly and their families

The Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Resource Center at NursingHomeAlert.com is an informational website designed to help the elderly and their families

• prevent nursing home abuse and neglect by giving sound advice on how to assess nursing homes and how to pay for care,
  
  
• recognize nursing home abuse and neglect by pointing out the signs of abuse and some of the medical issues involved with nursing home abuse and neglect, and
  
  
• stop nursing home abuse and neglect by informing you of your rights and what you can do, including legal action. If you believe a loved one is being mistreated, neglected or abused, here are some actions you can take to make things happen to quickly improve the situation.

What Do Families Learn About Your Facility On The Internet?

As one of the leading providers of online information about nursing homes, we understand the importance of attracting new residents through your online presence.

Don't Let Their First Impression Be Your Last One!

When researching an unfamiliar subject or when evaluating a major purchase, families now turn to the Internet to gather basic information. Why? It's fast, efficient, and always available. Families like Nsing Home INFO because we provide a comprehensive list of facilites, a user-friendly interface, and are there when they need help, 24 hours a day. Join Nursing Home INFO and you will make a great first impression on the Internet.

How Nursing Home INFO Works

Our audience is gathered from millions of web users through a highly-visible site with a name that tells exactly what the user can expect - Nursing Home INFO. Families use our map-based search engine to define their area of interest and generate a list of all the facilities in that area. They learn more about participating facilities by clicking through to their web sites, viewing their INFO profile and contacting them via E-mail or our INFORequest service. Participating facilities make a positive first impression and generate leads as a result.

Join Nursing Home INFO Today!

We recently made changes to our service to enhance member benefits and now provide options that are cost-effective for all facilities. Whether your facility is new to the Internet or you want to have your web site seen by our highly motivated audience, we can help! Please review our membership packages and gain some control over what families learn about your facility on the Internet!