Omaha Senior AdvisorHow can we arrange care for an Omaha parent from out of state?
Start with ENOA's Information and Assistance line, (402) 444-6444, or Aging Partners for Saunders County, to learn what services exist, use our directory to see every licensed facility near your parent, and line up a local contact, a friend, neighbor or professional care manager, who can visit.
Get the legal documents in order first: a durable power of attorney for finances and a power of attorney for health care, plus HIPAA authorizations so doctors can talk with you. Plan a visit to tour facilities in person if you can; video tours help but do not show staffing at mealtime or the feel of the building.
What can we check from a distance before choosing a facility?
From anywhere you can check the DHHS roster for license, beds, memory care and waiver status, CMS Care Compare for nursing home ratings, inspections and staffing, and the facility's written documents: rate schedule, sample service agreement, discharge criteria and latest survey.
Ask the facility to email those documents. Our facility pages show the roster and CMS figures for every licensed ALF and certified nursing home in the five counties.
Should a parent move closer to us instead?
Sometimes: being near the family who visits matters a great deal, but a move away from friends, church and doctors in Omaha has costs too, and different states have different licensing rules and Medicaid programs, so check how your state's system works before deciding.
If your parent may need Medicaid, note that it is administered by each state; your parent would apply in the new state after moving. Waiting lists and waiver programs differ widely.
How do we stay informed once a parent has moved into an Omaha facility?
Set a regular call with the nurse or care coordinator, ask to join care conferences by phone or video, keep the latest service agreement and survey on file, and arrange for a local contact to visit unannounced.
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman, (800) 942-7830, can help if concerns arise and you cannot be there. Read any new inspection results or CMS updates for the facility when they appear.
Can an advisor tour facilities for us?
An advisor can tell you which licensed buildings have openings, gather rate sheets and documents, and set up video tours, but nothing replaces a visit by you or a trusted local contact before a move.
Plan one trip to tour the final two or three choices in person.
Sources include 175 NAC 4 (assisted-living facilities), the Nebraska Revised Statutes cited above, Nebraska DHHS program and licensure pages, CMS, CareScout and VA rate tables; see our editorial standards.
