A few days ago I spoke on the phone to a nursing home social worker who had a problem. Perhaps you can relate.
The social worker needed online information on a local adult family home. She typed the home’s name without much success. The listings she found included the name and the address, but no phone number or detailed information. Instead, she was redirected to an 800-number of a senior referral agency with a sales person on the other end.
The social worker didn’t want to be sold; she just wanted help. And she wanted it for free.
I suggested she and I try the DSHS website. DSHS website The site gives basic information on all the nursing homes, assisted living and adult family homes in Washington State. There are similar databases in other areas of the country as well.
On the site, we found the owner’s name and phone number, number of rooms, and Medicaid policy. The site allows people to search for eldercare options by city, county or zip code. They can also look up enforcement letters which spell out fines levied on the communities or adult family homes. Some communities also have their services listed in detail in a document called “Disclosure of Services.”
Your next step–calling a live person–will be easier, now that you have the FREE information.
Good luck!
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