You must visit each prospective home yourself without first announcing your visit. You cannot base your decision solely on recommendations, phone calls, internet research, or marketing materials. Your gut check is required. As you visit, ask yourself some questions:

• How does it feel to be in this place?
• What stands out?
• Do the residents appear to be safe, occupied, and enjoying themselves?
• Is any resident left alone who should not be?

Many incidents in nursing homes occur because of a lack of supervision. Pay particular attention to this issue by trying to talk to a resident, if possible. Be very careful about facilities that try to prevent you from freely walking around the facility or talking to residents who are willing to talk to you. Visit the facility at different times of the day. Sometimes a facility can look adequate in the morning when the staffing level is usually the highest. Try going during the evening or on the weekend. Nursing homes' staffing levels are usually the worst on the weekends or between 4pm and 8pm on the weekdays.

To find out the rest of the 8 Steps to Selecting the Right Nursing Home, click below to download the entire Legal Insider Guide to Iowa Nursing Home Abuse Claims.