The face of long-term care has changed significantly in recent years and continues to evolve to meet the needs of today’s older adults. While many people wish to remain in their homes throughout their lives, that is not always possible. It is very important to make an informed decision when choosing a long-term care facility.

Ask questions. Find out about what is available in your area. Talk to trusted friends, family, neighbors, health providers, etc., to determine their experiences with various facilities.

Investigate. Most states maintain a "report card" for residential facility inspections that identifies deficiencies, corrections, and other information that might be important. Contact your state's department of health or department on aging to see how you may access that information.

Call. Once you have a list of possible places, get in touch with each one. Ask basic questions about openings and waiting lists, number of residents, costs, and methods of payment.

Visit. Make plans to meet with the director of nursing and director of social services. Medicare offers a nursing home checklist. To view it online, go to: http://www.medicare.gov/LongTermCare/Static/Home.asp. Ask yourself if your family member would receive good care and be comfortable there and if you would feel reassured having him or her there.

Visit again. Make a second visit without an appointment, maybe on another day of the week or time of day. See if your first thoughts are still the same.

For more information, visit: http://www.extension.org/pages/Choosing_a_Long-term_Care_Facility.