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Nursing homes aren’t just nursing homes anymore.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all definition. And for that, Nola Boomers presents to you and your aging parents our Nursing Home Guide & Directory. Here, you’ll find need-to-know-terms, local and state resources, and a list of area nursing homes from the South Shore to the North Shore.

Michele Varon, marketing and community outreach coordinator for Colonial Oaks in Metairie and Belle Vie in Gretna, says that nursing homes aren’t about “old people,” contrary to popular belief.

“That old stigma about nursing homes and old people sitting around doing nothing isn’t true,” she says. “Seniors are so much more livelier. The most surprising thing is how vibrant it can be.”

Types of Facilities*

Know what kind of facility or the type of care your aging parents might need. Click the Directory links to find address, websites, number of beds, and more for each type of facility.

Adult Daycare
Facilities that provide meals, structured activities, transportation, and social interaction for people with cognitive or functional impairments, usually serving those 80 and older. It also offers a place to go when their family caregivers are at work. On-site and on-call medical professionals are provided.
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Assisted Living
Focused on daily living tasks — bathing, dressing, eating. Residents usually live in their own rooms and share common areas. They have access to three meals a day; help with medications, housekeeping, and laundry; 24-hour supervision, security and on-site staff; and social and recreational activities.
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Continuum Of Care Retirement Community
Continuing care retirement communities offer different levels of service in one location, which varies by facility. A resident might move from level to another depending on their specific needs. Healthcare services and recreation programs are also provided.
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Memory Care
Memory care is a distinct form of long-term care designed to meet the specific needs of a person with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other types of memory problems.
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Nursing Home
Nursing homes provide a wide range of health and personal care services, which varies by location. Their services focus on medical care, including nursing care, 24-hour supervision, three meals a day, and assistance with everyday activities. Most nursing home residents live there permanently.
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Personal Care Home
Assisted living and personal care homes offer seniors many of the same services as independent living communities, but with the addition of assistance with daily needs. These are usually smaller, more private facilities, providing beds for around five to 20 residents.
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Retirement Community
A retirement community is a residential community or housing complex designed for older adults who are generally able to care for themselves. Activities and socialization are often provided.
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*Long-term or permanent-stay facilities are included only. Temporary rehabilitation facilities are not included. 

Resources

Below are local and state resources that’ll help if you need to file a complaint, find the rating for a specific facility, or need an advocate who can navigate the wide world of nursing homes.

Louisiana Department of Health
ldh.la.gov, 225.342.9500
On its website, you can find regional offices’ locations, apply for services, file a complaint, report fraud, and more. According to the department, there is currently a moratorium in place for nursing facilities in Louisiana. No new nursing homes will be built or licensed in the near future.

Important numbers
Aging and Adult Services Helpline: 866.758.5035
Louisiana Options in Long-Term Care: 877.456.1146
Nursing Home Abuse & Complaints: 888.810.1819

Filing a complaint
A complaint form can be found on the department’s website. All complaints are reviewed by the department, which will determine if there are reasonable grounds for an investigation.

Louisiana Nursing Home Association
lnha.org, 225.927.5642
The LNHA is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Baton Rouge, and represents more than 250 nursing facilities and assisted living communities by providing public policy advocacy, education, professional development, quality initiatives, and other services.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
cms.gov
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is a hub for everything related to the two programs. Medicare is a federal insurance program primarily for those 65 and older. Medicaid is a federal-state assistance program for low-income people of any age, but its exact coverage varies from state to state.

In Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order in 2016 that expanded Medicaid coverage to those that hadn’t already qualified. Any adult aged 19 to 64, has a household income less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level, and meets the citizenship requirement are able to enroll under the expansion. More information can be found at lamedicaid.com.

Nursing Home Rating System
medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare
Medicare and Medicaid-certified only nursing homes are subjected to annual surveys and a five-star rating system. A nursing home’s overall rating is based on health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Medicare.gov offers a searchable database of the ratings.

Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs
goea.louisiana.gov, 225.342.7100
Created in 1956, the GOEA is the catch-all for everything related to the administration of state programs and services for the elderly. It has developed a network of quasi-governmental agencies recognized as the Aging Service Network, which includes the 64 parish Councils on Aging. The Councils are responsible for planning, organizing, and offering programs and services for improving the quality of life for the 60 and older citizens of each of its respective parishes.

Ombudsman
ltcombudsman.org
Also directed by the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs, the Ombudsmen are trained advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities.They provide information about how to find nursing homes and other types of long-term care facilities and investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of long-term care facilities. Their services are confidential and free of charge.

Ombudsman Coordinator for the New Orleans region  – Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany Parishes
Tanya Hayes
LSU Agricultural Center, 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., Suite 300
Jefferson, LA 70123
504.736.6519 or 877.806.7401
Hayes’ advice for those that are touring potential nursing homes for their parents: “You should be able to feel the energy in the room — look for a happy atmosphere. The most important thing is making a person feel like a human.”

Nursing Home by Day

New Orleans offers some alternatives for those wanting to age at home: adult daycare facilities. These offer most of the same services as nursing homes, but only during the workday.

Keith Leiderman, executive director of Kingsley House, has these pointers for finding the right adult daycare or nursing homes: 

  • Does it provide transportation and what kind?
  • Was the building built specifically for these patients or is it a building that was converted?
  • What is the level of assistance offered: walking, bathing, eating, and taking medications?
  • Ease of access: Is the main entrance on a private street or a busy, active street?
  • What is the facility’s emergency preparedness plan in the event of a power outage or a hurricane?

Looking for more information on how to select the right nursing home? Check out the “Nursing Homes: Finding Comfort” feature in the May/June 2019 issue.