Skilled Nursing or Board and Care for Mom?

My mother is 84 years old and currently living in an assisted living facility. As her health and eyesite are getting worse we need to come up with another option for her. Can anyone recommend a great board and care or skilled nursing facility in the West Contra Costa area preferably. We would also be open to other parts of Contra Costa or Berkeley if the facility was nice enough. She uses a wheel chair a lot and needs help with daily routines, meals and sometimes help with the bathroom at night. Also if you have had any experience with any bad places. We are really at a loss as to which direction to go in and any help or recommendations from someone who has found a nice place for their older parents to live would be appreciated. jo

Seeking a skilled nursing facility for my mom

I am looking for a skilled nursing facility for my 88 year old mom and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations or experience with any SNFs in Oakland, Berkeley or Alameda. Thank you Michele

They can help with the latest info on nursing homes, what to look for, legal rights, forming a family council, etc. If you use their information, please consider a small donation to them--they are an invaluable resource.

I would take a look at Piedmont Gardens's SNF. Both my mom and dad received excellent care from them in the past, but you should check the results of current inspections.

No matter where your mother goes, you will need to stay active and involved for her to get good care. Good Luck

Nursing homes in Berkeley or Oakland

I am having to move my father's elderly cousin into a nursing home. She now lives in Marin, and if I can keep her over there I will, but it's possible that none of the central Marin places will take her. So, I am wondering if any of you have any experience of nursing homes in the Berkeley/Oakland area. There are quite a few of them, so I'm hoping to get some individual referrals if possible. The place needs to be a nursing home (e.g. will accept Medi-Cal as payment), rather than an assisted living or board and care home. anon

How to find a good nursinghome that takes Medicare

We need to find a nursing home for my mother-in-law and I'm not sure where to begin. I looked at the archives and didn't find very much. I also looked at the websites recommended in the archives but I'm more interested in people's experiences with nursing homes than in statistics. Can anyone recommend a nursing home in the East Bay that takes Medicare? Alternately, does anyone have any advice about how to go about looking for a ''good'' nursing home? We are hoping to find one where the staff is personable and caring and the environment is as pleasant as possible. Thanks
Geri

Good Skilled nursing home for 64 yr old with MS?

My mom is 64 and her MS has left her in a wheelchair. Her assistance requirements mean that assisted living seems not to be an option (She has been rejected by a couple). She is presently at Chaparral House in Berkeley. The staff is wonderful, and she has her own room. However, all of the other residents have serious dementia and are not capable of providing social interactions that are meaningful for my mom. Does anyone know of a local (within 30 minutes +/-) skilled nuring facility with a younger/non-dementia population that they would recommend? Thanks, Stephanie

The best SNF I have seen around here is Piedmont Gardens in Piedmont. They do have rigorous qualifications to be admitted, but it is the one place that I would feel good about my parent living in. I can't say that about several other local SNFs that I have worked at.

Finally, I have real issues with Senior Advantage about prescription benefits, but as far as equipment needs go they are really great. I have worked with the Kaiser wheelchair folks and orthotists for several even younger folks than your Mom with MS and Kaiser did a great job ordering powerchairs and splints and all of the things that your mom might need down the road. She would likely not get these things if she goes to Medicare/Cal. It is tough to make decisions about all of these things, but talk to the social worker and start making a list of all the pluses and minuses of each SNF or B&C that you visit, then do the same with the different health plans and make a decision based on that and also trust your instincts about the places- go and see them so that you can make the call. Best of luck to you and your Mom. Oakland PT

Nursing home (SNF) for my sick dad

My dad is 89 years old and has many problems (heart failure, bedsores, infections, mild dementia) and is at the point where he needs to move to a nursing home (SNF). He is no longer eligible for the assisted-living level of care, and home care is not an option. I didn't see any recommendations in the archives for nursing homes (hopefully most of you haven't had to deal with this problem!). Does anyone know of a good nursing home in the East Bay, preferably near Oakland? Also, if you know of a really bad one, please warn me about it!

Other requirements: it must accept Medi-Cal (he has no money), and it must accept hospice (I believe he will die soon, so I want him to be as comfortable as possible).

Thank you very much
sad daughter

Finding a place for in-laws with skilled nursing facilities

I need to find assisted living housing for my in-laws here in the East Bay. The posts I saw were more for active seniors. I would like a place with skilled nursing facilities as well, because I can see that need arising in the next few years. The ideal would be a Jewish center because they keep semi-kosher, i.e. no pork, shellfish, ... Any recommendations are appreciated. Linda

http://www.canhr.org/ (California Association of Nursing Home Reform, maintains a list of nursing homes)

http://alameda.networkofcare.org (A relatively new site, with host of information, including list of care facilities)

http://www.cahicap.org/ (info on Medicare, Long Term Ins, etc. each county has its offices and trained counselors to help you sort through the maze. For Alameda County, the HICAP counselors can be reached at 510-839-0393.)

Gloria