Finding a nursing home for a loved one can be a daunting task, but those who search diligently can navigate to the right fit, according to a Butler County expert.

Beth Herold, director of the Area Agency on Aging, advises families to view inspection reports for facilities, make regular visits during various times of the day and watch how staff members interact with residents.

“It’s just making sure, because a cupcake can look really pretty but taste really bad, and some bad cupcakes taste really good,” she said of inspection reports. “Every facility has a different flavor. Some of them are more country, some more upscale.”

Herold said finding nurses and staff who are passionate about their job is a good indicator that the facility is up to par.

“If you have workers that are totally in love with what they’re doing, that’s important,” Herold said. “Wherever you work in health care, that’s something you need a heart for. Look for that.”

Those who contact the Area Agency on Aging for assistance would have a needs assessment set up. To conduct the assessment, Herold said, the agency would send a worker to speak with the consumer wherever they are at the time, whether that is at home, in the hospital, at a rehabilitation center or elsewhere.

The consumer would then fill out a state form known as a functional eligibility determination tool to help determine their needs.

“Do they need a skilled nursing facility, or do they need a personal care home?” Herold said.

Once the agency and family determine which environment meets their needs, Herold said other factors, such as size, family support and financial assistance, are considered.

“Where does your family live? If someone lives in Bruin, I wouldn’t want them in Cranberry,” she said.

Herold said financial assistance for skilled nursing home care is available from the county for people in certain income brackets.

The next step would be to visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website and pull up inspection reports, or surveys, for the nursing facilities being considered.

The reports are listed month-to-month and list deficiencies and corrections, she said.

“They don’t sugarcoat things on here,” Herold said. “It’s the department’s job to get in the nitty-gritty and look at patterns; if there’s a problem in the home, did they fix it?”

Mark O’Neill, spokesman for the state Department of Health, said his department is required to conduct at least one inspection a year at each nursing facility in the state.

Facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs are also required to be visited for recertification up to 15 months after the last recertification survey, he said.

O’Neill also said inspections are conducted based on complaints or allegations of noncompliance of nursing home regulations.

Facility investigations are unannounced and are prioritized according to the severity of the allegations provided in the complaint, he said. Timelines differ based on the severity of the complaint.

Results are publicly available on the department’s website at least 41 days following the completion of an inspection, he said.

O’Neill said the department’s website is one of many sources for families selecting a nursing facility.

“The department encourages families to evaluate all information that is available, visit facilities they are considering, and review this Medicare checklist to identify factors most important to their personal situation,” he said. The nursing home checklist is available at medicare.gov.

Herold said the reports offer a “good overview,” but maintained the website is one of many tools to monitor and compare nursing homes. Sometimes, they’re limited.

“Don’t get too much in the weeds looking at them,” she said.

When selecting a nursing home, family members also can ask for nursing home recommendations from friends and clergy, Herold said.

“Ask your friends, do you have a loved one in a certain facility?” Herold said. “Ask your clergy, what nursing homes have you been visiting where residents are happy?”

It’s equally important to visit the facility, Herold said.

“How does it look? How does it smell? How do the residents like it?” she said.

Herold said red flags to watch out for when visiting include a lack of activities, residents sleeping in hallways, the facility discouraging families or visitors from talking to residents, and strong, persistent odors in the hallway.

Herold said accidents happen, and odors are not unnatural in health care facilities, but she said a foul smell should not be present in the entire building for prolonged periods of time.

Herold said prospective residents and their families can look at the activities that are planned, the meals listed on the menus and watch how workers interact and speak with residents who live there.

“If it’s the holidays, are they decorating? If it’s summer, are they decorating for summer?” Herold said.

Not one factor can be a conclusive assessment of the facility, she said.

“Nobody likes the food wherever they’re at, even college,” Herold said. “You have to look at it more globally than that.”

She encouraged families to talk to staff members and other families about their loved ones’ experiences in the nursing home.

Once a family has decided on a nursing home, Herold said, she would encourage them to visit often at different times of the day.

“Evening might be different than daytime,” she said. “Go and see what activities they have going on. Some can give you a wonderful, beautiful activity schedule, but is that what they’re doing? Or is the menu actually what they’re serving?”

Herold also said it is good to develop a relationship with staff members, so they recognize you when you visit your loved one.

“In no way does that mean they give you better care, but if they know you, if they know you keep tabs on mom, they might be more attentive to that,” she said.

She said families can continue looking at state inspection reports while visiting in person.

Regardless of the facility’s “look,” Herold said the ideal atmosphere is one where residents feel at home and part of the community.

“It makes all the difference,” she said. “Wouldn’t you want to be somewhere where you felt part of the community? Where you felt that you are valued, that your needs are being met and that you aren’t a burden?”