Whether you've used a referral agency or are looking for potential placements on your own, the following sites will help you further narrow the search for the right facility for you or your loved one.
When evaluating the information available at the following sites, you want to be concerned not just about licensing violations but the type of violation in the context of the care that you or your loved one require. For example, if you have a complex or critical medication administration regime related to a condition such as diabetes, violations related to a safe medication administration system will be quite pertinent.
Federal Licensing and Abuse History (Nursing Facilities)
If you are considering a nursing facility, there are federally maintained research sites for you, the primary one being located at www.medicare.gov. Once there, click on Find Providers Near Me. On the next page click Nursing Homes Including Rehabilitation from the left hand column. The site will then direct you from there.
State Licensing and Abuse Investigations (Assisted Living, Residential Care, Adult Foster Care)
If you are considering any type of facility in Oregon, including nursing facilities, you'll want to visit the Facility Search site maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services. This site can be found at www.ltclicensing.oregon.gov/Facilities. The site provides the results of licensing visits, complaint investigations and abuse investigations.
NOTE: It can take up to one year, very occasionally more, for information to be posted on this site. Do not assume that what you are seeing is reflective of all activity within the last year.
This information does not include Letters of Agreement reached between ODHS and a provider when there are licensing concerns. These are voluntary agreements that a provider may enter into in lieu of more formal corrective action. These are not posted on this site.
Resident Rights (All Levels of Care)
Your best resource for information about long term care is the Long Term Care Ombudsman. While you can access many valuable resources on their
website, a call to their toll free number (800-522-2602) and a conversation with the Deputy of the Day is highly advised.
They can provide you with licensing and abuse investigation information, but can also make you aware of any issues their volunteers have identified in specific settings or calls of concern they have received regarding rights violations.
Knowing the licensing and abuse history of a facility is very helpful in selecting a safe, healthy, and appropriate placement. However, a final decision should not be based on this alone. Note that these factors can change rapidly, often with a change in administration or ownership. A visit to the facility in question is critical and will be examined in the next blog post.
