Placing a loved one in a care facility is one of the most important and difficult decisions of your life. There are many questions to be answered:

• Who do we talk to?

• What is a “living will?”

• What is “power of attorney?”

• What are my loved one’s rights as a resident?

• What about Medicare and Medicaid?

• What is the difference between long-term and

short-term placement?

• What are the differences between a nursing

home and an assisted living facility?

• Is there a difference in care between funded

and private-pay facilities?

And what about...

Location: Urban or rural? Will it be close enough for convenient visits?

Appearance: Are facilities hiding odors with highly scented sprays? Are there areas to enjoy the outdoors? Is the facility smoke-free or is there an area for smokers?

Public Information: Are there complete copies available of every survey report that the facility has received from the Illinois Department of Public Health during the past five years? If so, what do those surveys really say about the facility?