Nursing Homes near Winston-Salem, NC

Nursing Homes in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

As people age, they need more help with the simple things in life, such as dressing, cooking, and cleaning. Although most seniors would rather stay in their own homes, sometimes that's not possible. When their families can't provide the level of care a senior needs, then it may be time to consider nursing home care. The idea of moving a loved one into a nursing home doesn't have to be a scary prospect. With a little research and time, families can find a new home that not only helps their loved one keep living life the way they want to, but it can also socially engage them in activities they never thought to do before. Winston-Salem is a mid-sized city with big city options for nursing homes, so families and seniors can definitely find a place that works for them.

Learning More About Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem has become known as the "City of the Arts and Innovation" because of its dedication to the fine arts and theater, as well as technological research. There are plenty of attractions and activities dedicated to seniors, as well as families, but the city's dedication to its aging population has landed it on CBS MoneyWatch's 10 Best Places to Retire list. One of the most interesting tidbits about the city is that it's home to the Reynolds Building, which was the tallest building in the U.S. south of Baltimore. However, it's also the predecessor and the prototype for the much larger Empire State Building in New York. Historically, Winston-Salem was two separate towns. The founders of Salem started it on behalf of the Moravian Church. Over time, they sold some land, and that land was named after Revolutionary War hero, Joseph Winston. The two towns worked for several years to combine the two, and when they finally did, they decided on a hyphen to combine both names rather than renaming it. This created issues with the U.S. Postal Service. When letters were sent to the town, they were often returned because the system did not recognize the hyphen. Since then, the mail service has been sorted out and families have found it to be a comfortable place to raise a family and be with their aging loved ones.

What You Should Know

When you first visit a nursing home, there are several questions that are important to ask. First, you should ask if the community is secure. Safety is important to the elderly, especially when they're in an unfamiliar place. Next, ask what type of training the staff has, and how long they have worked in their field. Another important piece of information is the staff to patient ratio, and what medical services are available. Finally, ask what kind of alternative medicines the home uses, if any. Once you have an answer to these questions, you can accurately compare several nursing homes together.

Paying for a Nursing Home

The average cost for a nursing home is about $50,000 to $75,000 a year. Areas with a higher cost of living can expect those prices to be higher, while a lower cost of living causes nursing home costs to be lower. Since Winston-Salem has become a place for retirement, which often finds people on fixed incomes, its cost of living is much lower than other parts of the country. With that in mind, you'll need to figure out the best way to pay for a nursing home. You should consider a long-term care insurance, which covers the cost of a nursing home, or at least a portion of it. Make sure you look into a policy well before you make the decision to move your loved one to the nursing home because some of them have time restrictions on them. If insurance is not an option, you can also look into Medicare and Medicaid, but they have their own set of restrictions, so it's better to start early and prepare ahead of time.

Deciding that a nursing home is the next step for a loved one is not an easy choice to make. Begin by researching nursing homes online. Be prepared to ask questions about the home and how it treats its residents, and be sure that you choose a place that meets all of your requirements. Since Winston-Salem has several retiree activities available to seniors, you want a facility that provides seniors regular outings and social activities.