Transitioning to a Nursing Home: What Families Need to Know

Moving a loved one into a nursing home can be one of the hardest decisions families face. It involves emotional, practical, and financial considerations. At Perham Living, social worker Jessica Bolin, LSW, is available to assist families in navigating this process.

The Nursing Home of Today

At Perham Living, we believe that life should be full of connection, comfort, and choice. That’s why we’ve created Perham Living to be a place that feels more like a vibrant small town than a traditional nursing home.

As Jessica explains, “A lot of people still think of the nursing homes from the olden days, where it was more clinical, but we’ve come a long way. We try to make it feel as much like home as possible.”

Perham Living’s unique household model divides the community into six cozy households, each home to 16 residents with a dedicated team of caregivers. This model fosters deeper relationships, personalized care, and a true sense of belonging. Residents and staff become like family, sharing meals, stories, and everyday moments.

Touring the Nursing Home

Tours are strongly encouraged and help families see the rooms, dining areas, and activity spaces firsthand. They also help loved ones picture what life in a nursing home actually looks like—three meals a day, frequent activities, coffee and snacks throughout the day, and outings such as bingo, happy hour, trips into town, and seasonal events.

“If you’re considering moving a loved one to Perham Living, tours are strongly encouraged. They can call and ask me to schedule,” explains Jessica.

How the Process Begins

Most admissions begin with a phone call from the family or a referral from a healthcare provider. “I get phone calls from the family wanting to know what their options are,” Jessica says.

Jessica spends a lot of time answering questions and explaining the process. Sometimes families simply want to get on the waiting list or schedule a tour. Other times, the need is sudden—caregiving has become too difficult, or the individual requires more support than they can safely receive at home or in assisted living.

“I tell people a lot, ‘there’s a time to be a caregiver, and there’s a time to be a spouse or a child,’” Jessica adds. “If caregiving becomes too much, it’s okay to consider nursing home placement.”

Criteria for Nursing Home Admission

In Minnesota, there are specific requirements for long-term care placement. Jessica explains: “We do a pre-admission screening, and a primary care provider also needs to sign orders for long-term care.”

A nursing home is typically appropriate when a person needs help with essential daily tasks, such as:

• Bathing and dressing
• Managing medications
• Meal preparation
• Toileting
• Ability to get a round
• Managing complex medical needs
• Coping with memory loss

If these needs can no longer be safely met at home or in assisted living, long-term care becomes the next step.

Financial and Legal Preparation

Families should prepare for the financial impacts of the move. Perham Living accepts private pay, medical assistance, long-term care insurance, and is contracted with the VA for qualifying residents. One of the most common misunderstandings, Jessica says, is that “Medicare pays for nursing home care… A lot of people think it does, but it doesn’t.”

Before moving in, Jessica advises families to ensure:

• Healthcare directives are complete
• Wills and powers of attorney are established
• Funeral arrangements and related expenses are planned and paid for in advance

“Do that now before you move to the nursing home,” she says, “so that it’s already taken care of and you don’t have to worry about it.”

Making the Transition Easier

Residents are allowed to bring furniture and items from home to make their room feel like home. Families are encouraged to treat the space like home. “We want families to feel like they can bake cookies, attend activities, or use the spaces designed for spending time together,” Jessica says. Families can reserve spaces for visits, celebrations, or special occasions.

The resident’s adjustment to long-term care can be greatly improved with continued involvement from family.

“Whether it’s visiting, attending care conferences, meeting neighbors, enjoying meals in the household dining room, joining in the activities, and getting to know the staff, all make the experience that much better,” encourages Jessica.

Supporting Your Loved One—and Yourself

Placing a loved one in a nursing home is never easy, but open communication with care staff can ease the emotional weight. Jessica reminds families: “It’s okay to have hard conversations with us—we understand. We want families to feel like they can ask questions or bring up concerns because that’s how we’re going to give your loved one the best care.”

For many families, recognizing that it may no longer be safe or possible to provide care at home is the first step toward ensuring their loved one receives consistent, 24/7 support, social interaction, and meaningful activity.

Call 218-347-1800 and ask for Jessica Bolin to schedule a tour or ask questions.