Would you feel comfortable with putting your loved ones in a nursing home?

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  1. Would you feel comfortable with putting your loved ones in a nursing home?

    • 48
      Yes
    • 257
      No
    • 53
      Not sure

358 members have participated

It is an inevitable course we are on. One day, most of our parents will wind up in a nursing home. Their care just becomes too demanding for their children who have jobs and families and simply not enough time to handle it all. I have seen a lot of guilt from family members over the years for doing this, yet the decisions they made are no fault of their own. Would you feel comfortable with putting your loved ones in a nursing home?

Specializes in a little of everthing.

Would I feel comfortable doing it? Not just no, but heeell no. Would I do it? That just depends on many factors. I won't say I would never do it. I have worked many years in LTC and have seen the good the bad and the ugly. Not every nursing home resident is miserable.

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No, I wouldn't feel comfortable, yet had to anyway with one family member due to his aggressive nature. At the same time I did everything I could including frequent visits at all times of the day to make sure his stay was as comfortable as possible.

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Specializes in CNA.

Can I just be honest here?

I work in a long term nursing home, and the care that these residents get is just above what is considered good.

And that's how it is at all nursing homes. I really try to provide the best care possible. If I notice a resident needs changed, shaved, toileted, or anything I'll do it. But so often I see CNA's who say I'll do it when I get back from my lunch break. and then they don't.

I've told my parents, that I would never put them in that type of a home, because they don't get the care that they deserve, and that's not fair to anybody.

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Specializes in AC, ER, Corrections, LTC.

I would feel absolutely comfortable placing a loved one in a nursing home in my area of Maine. I am not in a position to give up my job to meet the 24 hour care that would be required and I have found in my experience that many people flourish in the NH setting once adjusted. People who had otherwise sat at home for hours staring at the television or out windows begin to participate in exercise programs, attend group activities and become quite social.

While there are good and bad nursing homes...there is good and bad home care and hospital care as well. I have seen many an admission arrive from their homes through our ER and transition to our LTC unit with Large Stage IV pressure ulcers that our LTC unit healed despite being told they would likely never do so. The people who provide care to our elders treat them as though they are a part of their family. I also want to praise the nurses and staff of our LTC unit for achieving two back to back zero Federal/State Deficiency Surveys!!

There is much negative publicity of nursing home and the care delivered there but no one celebrates the good...I for one thank all the wonderful nurses and C.N.A. staff who meet the needs of our elders.

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health.

no, i've worked in LTC and know first hand that there are bad apples in every barrel...and I also know that the best of the best nurses and cna's can't do the work that is put on them and still have that extra time to spend with their patients that they would so love to have. I loved my pts, they were like family to me and I know to a lot of them, we the staff were their family. But like I said...I've seen enough to know I wouldn't want my mother in a nh unless I worked there myself..but I don't intend to do that again..I love what I'm doing now..but on the other hand..I have no wish to ever have to send my husband to a nh, and he won't as long as I am able to take care of him, but if I am ever to the point I would be a burden on my children or him..I'd go, I love them that much.

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Specializes in MS, LTC, Post Op.

I voted "not Sure" and I'll tell you why. I think that the reason behind putting them there is a big reason. Dementia or other organic brain disease, if I could not ensure their safety, yes I would.

But right now, my father has ALS, is vent dependant and has a gtube. He is at home. Infact, he and my husband are sitting here watching the Browns games behind me. I just suctioned him, did his trach care and gave him his meds...we can ensure proper care here at home, so he is staying here.

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I voted "not Sure" and I'll tell you why. I think that the reason behind putting them there is a big reason. Dementia or other organic brain disease, if I could not ensure their safety, yes I would.

But right now, my father has ALS, is vent dependant and has a gtube. He is at home. Infact, he and my husband are sitting here watching the Browns games behind me. I just suctioned him, did his trach care and gave him his meds...we can ensure proper care here at home, so he is staying here.

You make a very realistic point. I guess this issue is not black and white, which is where most of us are trying to hang our hats. I think thats really incredible that you are able and willing to do your father's care to that degree, and that he gets to watch football with your husband while still receiving the kind of care he needs. He's lucky to have you.

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Specializes in Breast Cancer, Arterial, General Surgery.
I voted "not Sure" and I'll tell you why. I think that the reason behind putting them there is a big reason. Dementia or other organic brain disease, if I could not ensure their safety, yes I would.

But right now, my father has ALS, is vent dependant and has a gtube. He is at home. Infact, he and my husband are sitting here watching the Browns games behind me. I just suctioned him, did his trach care and gave him his meds...we can ensure proper care here at home, so he is staying here.

I love the idea that people are able to care for their loved ones at home, unfortunately I would not be able to look after my dad in that scenario as I have to work full time and I am single.

I voted no because no matter how necessary it is, I would still feel that I was failing my loved ones.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

If I am able to care for my mom and dad at home I will as long as possible and the same for my inlaws. If they were demented or Alzheimers and violent then I would put them in a nursing home I would visit regularly. My grandma is 84 and will be 85 this month and she is still independent. We will keep her independent as long as possible. We will also keep her at her own home too as long as possible, even if my mom and I have to spend certian days with her since we both live only blocks away.

It really depends on the situation facing me at the time a decision has to be made.

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Specializes in MS, LTC, Post Op.
I love the idea that people are able to care for their loved ones at home, unfortunately I would not be able to look after my dad in that scenario as I have to work full time and I am single.

I voted no because no matter how necessary it is, I would still feel that I was failing my loved ones.

Oh don't get me wrong, my mom and I both care for him, there is always someone here. I don't work and luckily I am in the position to take part in his care.

Plus, I have worked in the only nursing home that takes vents in this area, and there are some nurses there that I refuse to allow take care of my dad. The aides there I trust, but just not some of the LPN's...though, my best friend is a supervisor there now, so things may change...

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in my weak ways i will try to avoid putting my parents in the nursing home eventhough i do not have any parents right now but if my parent were still alive i will work around my schedule to keep them home and care for them.the part of africa i am from we do not have nursing home we take of our parents and in return they give us blessing.

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I would love to take care of my parents until they get very old and weak. I want to give back to them the unconditional love and care they gave me.

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