Facility License Lookup
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Anonymous
| We're looking for either a nursing home or an assisted living facility for our father. We're in Gaithersburg. We've taken a couple of tours but how do we look up their licences to make sure they're up to code, have had no complaints about the space or the care, use licensed staff etc? There is a database to look up licenses for things like electricians in Montgomery County but I can't figure out how to look up licenses for nursing homes. Any help? Links with specifics? TIA |
Anonymous
|
Not sure out licensing per we, but check out Medicare's ratings for nursing homes (long stay): https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/
Nursing homes are also required to post staffing, complaints, etc., I think, at least in Virginia, meaning if you tour one, ask to see that information. |
Anonymous
Not sure about licensing per se.... |
Anonymous
|
Check the Medicare star ratings on the Medicare website. You can also look up nursing homes on the Maryland Health Care Commission Website.
One thing to be aware is that some of the data is not current. It typically reflects prior periods. So a place can be better or worse than they look on these websites. |
Anonymous
| Thanks but I'm looking for licensing informatioin in the state of maryland, or montgomery county. Just like you would check before you had someone take down a tree or do roofing work. |
Anonymous
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https://health.maryland.gov/ohcq/Pages/OHCQ-Licensee-Directories.aspx
Long term care providers |
Anonymous
| Really you need to visit to judge those sorts of things. |
Anonymous
|
Every state is required by law to have an elder care ombudsman program.
You can find out all that information, and more, by visiting their website and calling their office. Here is Maryland's: https://aging.maryland.gov/Pages/state-long-term-care-ombudsman.aspx The Maryland Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for the health, safety, well-being, and rights of residents in assisted living and nursing homes. Ombudsmen work at the direction of the resident and only take action with the resident's [or family's] consent. Ombudsman services are resident-directed, confidential and provided free of charge. The Maryland Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program also improves the quality of care and increases the quality of life for over 54,000 Maryland residents living in long-term care by advocating for laws, regulations and policies that benefit residents. Ombudsmen visit Maryland’s 1,850 assisted living and nursing homes nearly 7,000 times each year, resolving approximately 3,300 complaints from residents. |
Anonymous
| I looked OP and couldn’t find it either. Virginia’s is easy to look up and you can read the violation and inspection reports and whether they have 1,2, or 3 year licenses (3 is the best, indicates they have run a long time and have few if any issues). |
Anonymous
| Call the ombudsman and talk to families. Complaints are often not posted online and those visits are jsut surface visits. |