For many choosing a long-term care facility for a loved one can be a difficult choice. Kim Hawkins, Regional Ombudsman at Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments, says there is variety in the level of care offered at area facilities. She says there is a difference between a nursing facility and an assisted living facility. “A nursing facility requires an RN on site 24 hours a day and an assisted-living facility requires an RN be easily accessible. If you find an assisted-living facility with an RN on site 24 hours a day, that’s a plus,” Hawkins explained on Wednesday’s TownTalk.
Another thing to keep in mind is if a patient will require short-term or long-term care and to find the correct facility that meets those needs. Doctor recommendations should also be considered when deciding on the the type of facility that is right for your loved one.
“There are 47 licensed long-term care facilities in our area,” Hawkins says. That area includes the five counties of Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person. Hawkins says this is a fair amount for the region but that level of care provided at these facilities is more of an issue when choosing a place for your loved one.
Larger facilities in Raleigh, Durham or Chapel Hill offer the same basic minimum services as required by law but facilities in the larger cities may offer more amenities than those located in rural areas.
What if your loved one doesn’t like the facility they are placed in? “In theory, it’s easy to transfer but in reality it usually isn’t,” according to Hawkins. If your loved one has an issue with a facility, Hawkins suggests giving the facility an opportunity to fix the problem.
If you have further questions about long-term care, call Kim Hawkins at 252-436-2050 or email her at khawkins@kerrtarcog.org.
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