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Maintaining a ‘Sense of Family’ Even if Your Living Arrangements have Changed

Maintaining a ‘Sense of Family’ Even if Your Living Arrangements have Changed

MAINTAINING A ‘SENSE OF FAMILY’ EVEN IF YOUR LIVING ARRANGEMENTS HAVE CHANGED

October 24, 2018

Are you dreading the holidays because you’ve left your longtime home? Do you feel as if all your holiday traditions have become upended? 

It makes a big difference in your life. Part of our identities are tied up in those holiday traditions, often those that include family and friends. 

But you don’t have to give that all up when you move to a continuum-of-care community. Home is where the heart is, so get the people you love around you, wherever you are. Here are X tips to making that happen. 

1. Play Host Again 

Was your home the center of holiday activity for your family? Make your new place the center of activity again by inviting family to enjoy holiday meals and events hosted by the community onsite. Or, host your own gathering in your house, apartment, room or communal space. With family photos and holiday decorations, it will feel just like old times only in a new place. 

2. Create a New Tradition with New Friends 

Most senior living communities organize their own holiday parties and invite everyone on campus to attend. Often they organize daily holiday-themed events from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. These might include baking parties, nostalgic movie nights, gift-wrapping sessions, etc. If you don’t have family around to share in the holidays, what a great way to meet new friends and feel included in holiday traditions. Even better, when the facility throws the party, you don’t have to cook, host or clean. That is a welcome relief during stressful times. There is also a health and safety advantage to joining your neighbors at a facility party. You may not be physically equipped to host a party or travel to family, and your family may not be able to provide the level of care you need. 

3. Take Advantage of Provided Transportation to Family 

Your senior living community likely has an arrangement that will bring transportation off campus to your door. Taking advantage of that convenience can deliver you to your family to enjoy the holidays in their homes safely and quickly. Adult children with young children of their own sometimes stress about traveling to grandparents during the busy holiday season. Having grandparents travel to where the whole family is celebrating could be more convenient for everyone involved. 

4. Create an ‘Orphans’ Holiday’ 

Many seniors feel alone on the holidays, but in fact, this feeling of isolation is widespread among those who live by themselves. While you may not be prepared to travel or host, you can connect with other people who are feeling the same way you are and have your own Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Eve.   

The holidays are always a festive time at the seven communities in Eastern Nebraska and one in Wyoming affiliated with Nye Health Services, offering independent living to skilled nursing care. A family-owned company with a rich history of connecting with the people they serve, Nye Health Services is open for visits anytime. Call 402-753-1400 to make an appointment at a location in Fremont, Lincoln, South Sioux City, Norfolk, or Jackson Hole, or visit NyeHealthServices.com for more information. Happy holidays!

6 Ways a Continuum of Care Makes Winter Safer for Seniors

6 Ways a Continuum of Care Makes Winter Safer for Seniors

6 WAYS A CONTINUUM OF CARE MAKES WINTER SAFER FOR SENIORS

Are the punishing winters turning you into a shut-in? Do the short days and long nights make you feel lonely and sad? What about shoveling your driveway or salting the sidewalk? Do you dread having to do it? If you go out less because you’re afraid of falling on snow and ice, we may have the solution.  

It doesn’t have to be this way. A continuum of care community can give you all the independence you want without the hassles and dangers of living in harsh weather.  

Consider the six reasons moving now will improve your winter: 

1. Assistance at Your Fingertips 

A continuum of care community allows you to continue to live your active lifestyle while someone else takes care of the chores like snow removal. And if you’re not so active, a continuum of care community provides whatever assistance you need and plenty of opportunities for socializing with people in the same stage of life. 

2. Services Are Right There 

You don’t need a car to go out to dinner, hit the gym, take a dip in the indoor pool or join in activities at the community center. They’re all right there for you. And if you need transportation off campus, they’ll arrange that too. 

3. Your Safety Matters 

Older people are at risk for illness and injury during the cold, dark, slippery season. Just walking is often treacherous. Frostbite and hypothermia disproportionately affect older people, too: seniors account for more than half the deaths from hypothermia in the U.S. And living alone can be deadly for seniors who catch the flu, which already takes three-quarters of its victims from among those age 65 and older. Being around others, where the grounds are clear, indoor activities are convenient and medical care is present can be lifesaving. Which means you should move now before winter hits. 

4. Happy is Healthy 

Seasonal Affective Disorder is tough to endure but easier around active, like-minded people your own age, and a caring staff that looks out for your health. Isolation and sadness can exacerbate medical conditions that seniors endure, so being around others is important for your physical and your mental health. 

5. Give Yourself Time to Make Friends 

Moving to a continuum of care community in the winter allows you to make friends during the season when you won’t be leaving campus much. Then, when the robins sing, flowers bloom and you’re ready to be more active outdoors, you will already have a gaggle of friends to take with you. From a friend-making standpoint, winter is the absolute best time to start life at a continuum of care community. 

6. No Time Like the Present 

Arranging visits to continuum of care communities now allows you to see what life is like around the campus before everything moves indoors. Deciding now means you avoid the hassle of moving in the cold and snow. Once winter hits and the sun sets before dinner, you might not want to take the life-altering step, and you’ll endure another four months alone.  

 Nye Health Services offers six communities in Eastern Nebraska and one in Wyoming, structured to meet the needs of their residents from independent living to skilled nursing care. A family-owned company with a rich history of connecting with the people they serve, Nye Health Services is open for visits anytime. Call 402.753.1400 to schedule an appointment at locations in Fremont, Lincoln, South Sioux City, Norfolk, or Jackson Hole, or visit NyeHealthServices.com for more information.

6 Advantages of Short-Stay Rehabilitation

6 Advantages of Short-Stay Rehabilitation

6 ADVANTAGES OF SHORT-STAY REHABILITATION

Going directly home is not always the best option for people leaving the hospital after a surgery, illness or accident. Instead, short-stay rehabilitation programs provide the physical, occupational and speech therapy services necessary to help patients return to their house or to an assisted living facility in the shortest time possible. 

In most cases, therapists are part of a team of medical professionals who collaborate with patients and their family members to develop an individualized plan aimed at completing the recovery process. 

A few days or even a few months at a short-term rehab facility offers several advantages over outpatient physical therapy. For example: 

1. Access to Care 

The patient has access to professional medical care 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week. This takes the burden off of your loved ones and allows you access to more advanced care and assistance while you recover. 

2. On-Site Therapy 

Some facilities employ physical, occupational and speech therapists, as well as social workers, physicians, nurses and nutritionists. Having all of the specialized care you need speeds up the recovery process, and ensures the smoothest, quickest path to healing. 

3. Organized Activities 

Recovering at home can be an isolating experience, especially when those in your life carry on with the fun, daily activities you enjoy. Many short-term rehab facilities provide private rooms and a variety of social and recreational activities, which means you won’t be stuck at home watching TV all day. 

4. An Opportunity to Take a Break 

Being at home isn’t easy, especially when you look around and see everything that requires your attention. At a short-stay rehabilitation facility, you can forget about the leaf-filled yard and pile of laundry while your recover. Patients won’t feel like they have to return to their normal household responsibilities sooner than they are ready to do so, which means they’ll be healed sooner, too. 

5. The Best Fit 

You have the opportunity to choose a short-stay rehabilitation facility that is the best fit for you. Here are some questions to ask if you are looking for a short-stay rehab facility for yourself or a loved one: 

  • What percentage of patients go home or to as assisted living facility after short-stay rehab, and how many patients must return to a hospital? 

  • How does the Medicare program rate the facility? 

  • What is the ratio of staff to patients? 

  • What is the average length of recovery time? 

  • Are private rooms available? 

  • Is the facility close enough for friends and relatives to visit on a regular basis? 

6. Recovery in Less Than Two Months 

How long will you have to remain in short-stay rehab? That depends on why you’re there and your goals for recovery, though generally speaking, four to six weeks is normal. If you have Medicare coverage, the federal insurance program will usually pay for your stay, as long as you’ve spent at least three nights as a hospital inpatient within the past 30 days. And, of course, the facility you choose must be certified by Medicare. 

If you are covered by health insurance other than Medicare, you should check to make sure a specific facility is in your network and find out exactly what services are covered. 

Are you interested in learning more about how short-stay rehabilitation can help you transition from the hospital to your home or to an assisted living facility? Check with Nye Health Services, which offers short stay rehabilitation services In Fremont, South Sioux City and Lincoln, Nebraska. For more information, visit NyeHealthServices.com or call 402-753-1400.

No Falls in Fall: 7 Strength-Building Exercises to Help Seniors Prevent Accidents

No Falls in Fall: 7 Strength-Building Exercises to Help Seniors Prevent Accidents

NO FALLS IN FALL: 7 STRENGTH-BUILDING EXERCISES TO HELP SENIORS PREVENT ACCIDENTS

Falls can be dangerous for people of any age. But they can be especially hazardous for seniors, leading to broken bones and worse. But just because you’re eligible for a senior discount at the local movie theater doesn’t mean you’re too old to protect yourself from a potentially dangerous situation. 

“As we age, we start to lose some of the strength and mobility we used to have. Trying to do some of the things we could do in the past becomes difficult and challenging,” says John Brackle, director of rehabilitation at Nye Health Services. “So, then it becomes a matter of understanding our limitations and knowing when we’re putting ourselves in a difficult situation. And more importantly, how do we adapt to situations at a certain point in life?” 

Improving strength and balance can be as simple as exercises designed to mimic movements seniors would use in every day. “If we stop using our joints, if we stop using our muscles, they become stiff and tight and weak,” Brackle says. “Those everyday tasks become difficult to do — such as getting out of a chair or walking to the dining room. Simply moving the joints allows them to move more freely, helps the muscles turn on, helps with blood flow. It helps you perform those everyday activities with less strain, and less fear of falling.” 

Strength and balance can be improved at any age. Here are seven easy exercises seniors can start with: 

1. With your feet hip-width apart and a chair to one side to hold onto for balance, step forward with one foot and bend your front knee until your back knee nearly touches the ground. Then push your front foot to return to the standing position. Repeat the same motion with your other leg. Start with 10 reps for each leg, and eventually, you’ll be able to do this exercise without the chair. 

2. Sit in a chair, hold its bottom with both hands. Extend one of your legs straight out, then bring your knee toward your chest. Don’t move your upper body. Extend your leg, then lower your foot to the ground. Repeat with the other leg. Eventually, you should be able to do 10 reps with each leg and then possibly both legs at the same time. 

3. Stand with your feet together, then slowly roll your upper body down toward your toes. You may not be able to touch your toes at first, but eventually, you might build the flexibility to do so. 

4. Stand behind a chair, grasping its back with both hands. Lift up on your toes, hold that position for a moment, then lower your heels back to the floor. Repeat this exercise 10 times. 

5. Stand behind a chair, holding it with both hands. Slowly lift your right leg to the side, about 6 inches off the floor. Hold that position for a moment, then return your leg to its starting position. Repeat this exercise 10 times with each leg. 

6. To strengthen your lower back, stand behind a chair and slowly lift your right leg straight back, without bending your knees or pointing your toes. Hold that position for a second, then return your foot to the ground. Repeat this exercise between 10 and 15 times with each leg. 

7. Increase your strength with wall pushups. Stand an arm’s length from a wall, lean forward, and place your palms on the wall at the height and width of your shoulders. Slowly bring your body toward the wall, with your feet remaining planted on the ground, then push yourself back to the starting position. Twenty repetitions should do the trick. 

While no one can prevent the march of time, with proper exercise everyone can maintain strength and balance. “There’s not a magical exercise out there,” Brackle says. “Think about the everyday things you do. That can be exercise. It’s a matter of getting yourself to do it, and being consistent with it.” 

Want to learn more about the advantages of therapy services? Nye Health Services offers inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient therapy services to get you stronger and back home sooner. To learn more about these services contact us at (402) 753-1400, or by visiting  NyeHealthServices.com.

When You Should Bring Parents on an Assisted Living Visit?

When You Should Bring Parents on an Assisted Living Visit?

WHEN YOU SHOULD BRING PARENTS ON AN ASSISTED LIVING VISIT

For more than one reason, moving one or both of your parents into an assisted living facility is never easy. On the one hand, you might very well have to convince Mom or Dad that they no longer can live in their home – that they are unable to handle day-to-day tasks such as fixing meals, bathing, cleaning the house, shoveling snow, mowing the lawn and doing home repairs.  

Leaving home is an emotional journey for your parent and to overcome some of the fears or apprehensions they have, it is critical to find the right place for your parent to call home. You’ll have to consider a wide array of issues, from the quality of medical care that’s offered to meals, safety, and recreational activities. And, of course, the cost will also be a major factor. 

You can find out a lot about most of these issues by visiting a variety of assisted living facilities. Should you do so by yourself or with your spouse, or should Mom and Dad go with you? The answer to that question will depend in large part on whether your parents are willing and eager to move to a place where those day-to-day tasks are taken care of for them – or if they are adamant about staying in the house that has been their home for years or even decades. 

Here are the two key considerations. 

1. You Don’t Need Them for Fact-Finding 
An initial visit to an assisted living facility to find out about subjects such as medical care, meals and safety can be done without your parents coming along. But remember – assisted living is a patient-driven experience, and the ultimate decision often lies with Mom and Dad. Their needs must be taken into consideration, even after they move in. For example, if your parents don’t feel safe in their new home, you might have to call staff members and remind them to make sure the door to Mom or Dad’s room is locked every night. Or, if Mom or Dad isn’t eating right, you might have to ask about adjusting the menu in the dining hall. 

2. You Do Need Them When Preferences are Involved 
However, especially if your parents are reluctant to move to an assisted living facility, you should take them with you when you visit a senior living community so they can see what types of fun and interesting recreational activities are available. Many facilities plan activities year-round, and family members are always encouraged to attend. If your parents aren’t sure about whether they are ready to leave their home and move to an assisted living facility, a visit to a senior living community is a great way to ease their fears and clear up any misconceptions they might have about moving. 

If you are looking to learn more about how assisted living can benefit your loved one, or if you would like to know more about how to choose an assisted-living community that’s right for you, visit https://nyehealthservices.com/ to learn more and find an assisted-living community near you. Nye Health Services offers independent living and assisted living options in five locations in Nebraska and Wyoming.

Nye Health Services Award-Winning Campuses & Services

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4 Life-Changing Health c

4 Life-Changing Health c

4 LIFE-CHANGING HEALTH BENEFITS OF INDEPENDENT LIVING

As people age, it’s important for them to stay connected socially. Being isolated from friends, family members and neighbors can lead to depression and other mental health issues. Studies have shown that loneliness can contribute to physical problems as well. Living alone can present many barriers to social connectedness that seniors who live in an independent living community don’t experience. Isolation can have negative impacts on your health, fitness, and memory, and the older we get, the more important it becomes that we are surrounded by people we know.
Senior citizens who remain in their home face a variety of issues that have the potential to lead to isolation and physical and mental ailments. How can you avoid them? Here are four life-changing benefits of independent living.

1. Support When Friends and Relatives Move Away
For many seniors, friends and relatives may live too far away, or may even be thinking of moving to a more distant location to be closer to their own families. That reduces the natural daily interactions that occur, as well as the free assistance and watchful eyes provided by loved ones. Independent living communities generally offer a wide range of activities such as singing and playing musical instruments; biking, dancing and other physical activities; and cards, chess, checkers and board games. Residents can enjoy each other’s company and engage in brain-boosting conversation daily.

2. Health Issues Won’t Keep You Down
Staying social is vital to overall health and well-being. When seniors have
medical issues that keep them from visiting friends and neighbors, going on shopping excursions or even walking around the neighborhood, it limits their interactions with others as well their time out in the world. One study even found that those seniors who had the most social interaction also maintained the highest level of mobility as they aged. The key to maintaining a healthy body, regardless of age, is to maintain a healthy and active brain. While residents are meeting, interacting and having fun with new friends and neighbors, they can also enjoy an array of services that will help them remain healthy, happy and well-adjusted. Independent living communities offer options such as housekeeping and laundry, three meals a day, a safe and secure building, cable TV, Wi-Fi, utilities, social and recreational activities, personal medical alert systems, scheduled outings and transportation to doctors’ appointments.

3. Can’t Drive? No Problem
Even if they are physically able to leave their home, they might be limited in their ability to drive, and they might not have access to public transportation. This can leave seniors stranded without access to the things they need and want in their lives. Independent living communities offer regularly-scheduled outings to shopping areas, movie theaters, baseball stadiums and possibly even golf courses. They often organize seniors to volunteer at schools, hospitals or nursing homes, or local organizations such as youth sports teams.

4. An Unyielding Support System
Seniors often are confronted with the emotional impact of friends and family members in their age group has passed away. Those that live alone are often forced to deal with these losses, especially that of a spouse, without an everpresent network of support. Not having a community of support makes the grieving process more difficult. While it’s not an easy choice to leave the home, for many seniors, many of the challenges they face can be eliminated by moving into an independent living community, where a community is readily available to prop you up when life gets hard.

Would you like to learn more about the advantages of living in an independent living community? Contact Nye Health Services, which provides a wide range of services to maximize the health and wellness of older adults. For more information, please contact Nye Health Services at (402) 753-1400.

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7 CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELECTING HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS FOR SENIORS

Deciding where you, your parents or other family members will live out their lives when they are in need of healthcare services, is a momentous decision, often made in haste during a health crisis.

During these times, it is important to be armed with the information you need to make the best decision possible.

Below are seven key criteria for determining which assisted living or skilled nursing facility is right for you or a loved one.

1.  Check the Star Rating

The federal government’s Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services created a Five-Star Quality Rating System to help families compare health care providers. Facilities are rated based on health inspections, staffing and quality measures. Look for a facility that has a four-star or five-star rating. NursingHomeRating.org also employs a five-star rating system, as you can see here.

2. Seek Recommendations 

An objective review is important, but you also need to think about whether a healthcare provider is right for your particular circumstances. In that case, it can be helpful to seek opinions from both experts and everyday consumers like you. Talk to your friends who may have experienced similar circumstances. Then examine the online reviews of facilities from individual consumers and organizations that specialize in senior living communities. For example,  here is the review from Senior Advice  of Gateway Vista, a continuum of care community in  Lincoln, Nebraska.

3. Research the Company Online

Online recommendations and reviews can be eye-opening, and while they only tell part of the story, they can help you understand the real-life experiences of other families, patients and residents. Research the organization on Google, their website and other online review sites, such as SeniorAdvice.com. Consider both the good and bad information – they will provide ideas of things to look for and questions to ask if and when you visit.

4. Review the Organizational Values and History 

Is the organization you’re looking into family-owned or does it report to a corporate board elsewhere? Is its mission to maximize the health and well-being of its residents or to generate profits for shareholders? Is it a place where employees love to work and remain for years or is there constant turnover of staff? Are the people in charge innovators in the field going back decades or are they fairly new to it? Answers to questions like these will go a long way towards determining whether this is the healthcare provider for you.

5.  Check Their Credentials

It’s easy to determine whether a provider is recognized for excellence by the American Health Care Association and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.

6.  Get a Sense of How It Feels There

You want to walk onto the campus and feel like you’re home. You want to see staff and residents smiling and celebrating life. You may feel down when you need assistance with daily activities or rehab for an injury, but you want the people around you to pick you up with their spirit.

7.  Make Sure There is Easy Access to Healthcare Partners

Most continuum of care communities have a wide range of healthcare providers on site, but how about the physicians, therapists and specialists you may need while living there? Determine in advance whether those providers are right down the road or two towns over where they might be difficult to access. That can make a world of difference for you or your loved one.

Nye Health Services  offers seven communities in Eastern Nebraska and one in Wyoming, structured to meet the needs of their residents from independent living to skilled nursing care. A family-owned company with a rich history of connecting with the people they serve, Nye Health Services is open for visits anytime. Call  402.753.1400to schedule an appointment at locations in Fremont, Lincoln, South Sioux City, Norfolk, or Jackson Hole, or visit  NyeHealthServices.com  for more information.

Nye Health Services Award-Winning Campuses & Services

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6 WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

You’ve transitioned to an independent living community or an assisted living arrangement somewhere new. You still have your old friends and family, but maybe they’re no longer in your neighborhood. 

Now here come the holidays and you’re worried about getting lost in the hubbub as your old friends and family enjoy their traditions without you. It’s a common concern.  

Fortunately, you live in the best time ever to keep friends and family close even when they’re far away. Here are 6 ideas you might not have considered. 

1. Enjoy New Traditions with New Friends 

All those opportunities for socializing with neighbors in your new community will pay off come holiday time. If you have been socializing, you probably know people who are facing the same predicament. Why not start a new tradition with them? 

2. Invite Folks to Your Place for a Pot Luck 

You can have your friends over without playing host. In fact, you don’t even have to do it in your home. You can rent a community room on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, invite everyone to bring a dish appropriate to the holiday, and enjoy communion with old friends and new. Or, you can cook together as a group. Either way, you’re not doing all the work yourself. 

3. Organize a Volunteer Opportunity Together 

Serving meals together with friends at the local soup kitchen, visiting patients in a hospital or in hospice care, or doing a project that helps others can be spiritually uplifting, and can help you forget any loneliness you might feel. If your family joins you, focusing on others who have less than you is a great way to strengthen the bonds among you. 

4. Get with the Times and Follow Family on Social Media 

Keep up with the grandkids by following them on Instagram or Snapchat, or find your children on Facebook. It’s amazing how much of their lives people share on social media today—things you might not even hear about in a phone conversation or personal visit. A lot of older people are intimidated by social media, but it was all designed to be used by regular people. The only reason you don’t know how to use it is that you haven’t yet learned.  

5. Video Chat! 

For friends and family who are far away, there is now the alternative that allows you to talk to them and see them, almost as if you’re in the room together. Video chatting is easy to set up; in fact, most computers and laptops are already equipped with cameras and microphones. If yours isn’t, webcams cost 50 bucks at the local electronics store or on the web. 

6. Play Games with Them Online 

The Internet is awash with games that people can play online, like Words With Friends, the online Scrabble knockoff; or Splatoon, the cartoon-based ink-shooting game; or… well, literally thousands of others. You can even do it while video chatting, so you can trash talk your family or friends and watch their reactions while you play. 

It’s just easier than ever to keep up with those you love or start relationships with new friends, thanks to technology and communities for people like you.  

Nye Health Services offers seven communities in Eastern Nebraska and one in Wyoming structured to meet the needs of their residents from independent living to skilled nursing care. A family-owned company with a rich history of connecting with the people they serve, Nye Health Services is open for visits anytime. Call 402.753.1400 to make an appointment at a location in Fremont, Lincoln, South Sioux City, Norfolk, or Jackson Hole, or visit NyeHealthServices.com for more information.

Nye Health Services Award-Winning Campuses & Services

Nye Health Services  · 750 East 32nd  Street ·  Fremont, Nebraska 68025  ·  402.753.1400  ·  Privacy Policy | XML Sitemap

7 CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELECTING HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS FOR SENIORS

Deciding where you, your parents or other family members will live out their lives when they are in need of healthcare services, is a momentous decision, often made in haste during a health crisis.

During these times, it is important to be armed with the information you need to make the best decision possible.

Below are seven key criteria for determining which assisted living or skilled nursing facility is right for you or a loved one.

1.  Check the Star Rating

The federal government’s Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services created a Five-Star Quality Rating System to help families compare health care providers. Facilities are rated based on health inspections, staffing and quality measures. Look for a facility that has a four-star or five-star rating. NursingHomeRating.org also employs a five-star rating system, as you can see here.

2. Seek Recommendations 

An objective review is important, but you also need to think about whether a healthcare provider is right for your particular circumstances. In that case, it can be helpful to seek opinions from both experts and everyday consumers like you. Talk to your friends who may have experienced similar circumstances. Then examine the online reviews of facilities from individual consumers and organizations that specialize in senior living communities. For example,  here is the review from Senior Advice  of Gateway Vista, a continuum of care community in  Lincoln, Nebraska.

3. Research the Company Online

Online recommendations and reviews can be eye-opening, and while they only tell part of the story, they can help you understand the real-life experiences of other families, patients and residents. Research the organization on Google, their website and other online review sites, such as SeniorAdvice.com. Consider both the good and bad information – they will provide ideas of things to look for and questions to ask if and when you visit.

4. Review the Organizational Values and History 

Is the organization you’re looking into family-owned or does it report to a corporate board elsewhere? Is its mission to maximize the health and well-being of its residents or to generate profits for shareholders? Is it a place where employees love to work and remain for years or is there constant turnover of staff? Are the people in charge innovators in the field going back decades or are they fairly new to it? Answers to questions like these will go a long way towards determining whether this is the healthcare provider for you.

5.  Check Their Credentials

It’s easy to determine whether a provider is recognized for excellence by the American Health Care Association and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.

6.  Get a Sense of How It Feels There

You want to walk onto the campus and feel like you’re home. You want to see staff and residents smiling and celebrating life. You may feel down when you need assistance with daily activities or rehab for an injury, but you want the people around you to pick you up with their spirit.

7.  Make Sure There is Easy Access to Healthcare Partners

Most continuum of care communities have a wide range of healthcare providers on site, but how about the physicians, therapists and specialists you may need while living there? Determine in advance whether those providers are right down the road or two towns over where they might be difficult to access. That can make a world of difference for you or your loved one.

Nye Health Services  offers seven communities in Eastern Nebraska and one in Wyoming, structured to meet the needs of their residents from independent living to skilled nursing care. A family-owned company with a rich history of connecting with the people they serve, Nye Health Services is open for visits anytime. Call  402.753.1400to schedule an appointment at locations in Fremont, Lincoln, South Sioux City, Norfolk, or Jackson Hole, or visit  NyeHealthServices.com  for more information.

Nye Health Services Award-Winning Campuses & Services

Nye Health Services  · 750 East 32nd  Street ·  Fremont, Nebraska 68025  ·  402.753.1400  ·  Privacy Policy | XML Sitemap

7 CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELECTING HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS FOR SENIORS

Deciding where you, your parents or other family members will live out their lives when they are in need of healthcare services, is a momentous decision, often made in haste during a health crisis.

During these times, it is important to be armed with the information you need to make the best decision possible.

Below are seven key criteria for determining which assisted living or skilled nursing facility is right for you or a loved one.

1.  Check the Star Rating

The federal government’s Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services created a Five-Star Quality Rating System to help families compare health care providers. Facilities are rated based on health inspections, staffing and quality measures. Look for a facility that has a four-star or five-star rating. NursingHomeRating.org also employs a five-star rating system, as you can see here.

2. Seek Recommendations 

An objective review is important, but you also need to think about whether a healthcare provider is right for your particular circumstances. In that case, it can be helpful to seek opinions from both experts and everyday consumers like you. Talk to your friends who may have experienced similar circumstances. Then examine the online reviews of facilities from individual consumers and organizations that specialize in senior living communities. For example,  here is the review from Senior Advice  of Gateway Vista, a continuum of care community in  Lincoln, Nebraska.

3. Research the Company Online

Online recommendations and reviews can be eye-opening, and while they only tell part of the story, they can help you understand the real-life experiences of other families, patients and residents. Research the organization on Google, their website and other online review sites, such as SeniorAdvice.com. Consider both the good and bad information – they will provide ideas of things to look for and questions to ask if and when you visit.

4. Review the Organizational Values and History 

Is the organization you’re looking into family-owned or does it report to a corporate board elsewhere? Is its mission to maximize the health and well-being of its residents or to generate profits for shareholders? Is it a place where employees love to work and remain for years or is there constant turnover of staff? Are the people in charge innovators in the field going back decades or are they fairly new to it? Answers to questions like these will go a long way towards determining whether this is the healthcare provider for you.

5.  Check Their Credentials

It’s easy to determine whether a provider is recognized for excellence by the American Health Care Association and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.

6.  Get a Sense of How It Feels There

You want to walk onto the campus and feel like you’re home. You want to see staff and residents smiling and celebrating life. You may feel down when you need assistance with daily activities or rehab for an injury, but you want the people around you to pick you up with their spirit.

7.  Make Sure There is Easy Access to Healthcare Partners

Most continuum of care communities have a wide range of healthcare providers on site, but how about the physicians, therapists and specialists you may need while living there? Determine in advance whether those providers are right down the road or two towns over where they might be difficult to access. That can make a world of difference for you or your loved one.

Nye Health Services  offers seven communities in Eastern Nebraska and one in Wyoming, structured to meet the needs of their residents from independent living to skilled nursing care. A family-owned company with a rich history of connecting with the people they serve, Nye Health Services is open for visits anytime. Call  402.753.1400to schedule an appointment at locations in Fremont, Lincoln, South Sioux City, Norfolk, or Jackson Hole, or visit  NyeHealthServices.com  for more information.

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