How can I check a Salt Lake facility from another state?
Everything important is online: DLBC's public licensing search shows each Utah facility's license and 36 months of inspection findings, and CMS Care Compare shows nursing home ratings; our directory gathers both for Salt Lake and Tooele counties.
Read the actual findings rather than the count. A single repeat citation about medication administration tells you more than five findings about paperwork.
Who can be our eyes and ears locally?
Line up at least one local contact who can visit unannounced, plus the facility's administrator and nurse; the Salt Lake County Long-Term Care Ombudsman (385-468-3255) can step in if a problem cannot be resolved with the facility.
Ask the facility to designate you as the responsible person in writing so it must contact you; Utah's rule requires the administrator to notify the responsible person within 24 hours of a significant change in a resident's health.
Should we move a parent closer to us instead?
Sometimes, but weigh the loss of friends, church community and familiar doctors in Utah against easier visits; a move across state lines also means a different state's licensing system and Medicaid program.
If siblings live in Davis or Utah County, the same Utah rules apply there. See looking beyond Salt Lake County.
How do we plan visits so they count?
Schedule one visit around the six-month reassessment or a care plan meeting, visit at different times of day, eat a meal in the dining room, and talk to aides on more than one shift.
Bring a written list of questions and leave with written answers. Follow up by email so there is a record.
What documents should a long-distance caregiver have on file?
Keep copies of the durable power of attorney, health care directive, insurance cards, the current medication list, the facility admission agreement, and the most recent assessment and service plan.
Store them where you can reach them from anywhere, and make sure the facility has your name on file as the responsible person. Utah's rule requires the facility to keep resident records available to DLBC; ask how the family can get copies.
How can I follow a facility's inspection record over time?
Check DLBC's public search every few months, since new inspections and findings appear there, and re-read our facility profile, which is regenerated from DLBC's records.
If a new complaint investigation appears, ask the administrator about it directly. Facilities expect families to read their public record.
At a glance
| Long-distance caregivers can | Long-distance caregivers cannot | |
|---|---|---|
| Records | Read DLBC and CMS records online | Rely on marketing materials |
| Contacts | Use a local visitor and the ombudsman | Be the only set of eyes |
| Visits | Time visits to care plan reviews | See everything in one weekend |
Sources include Utah Admin. Code R432-270, Utah DHHS and DLBC pages, Salt Lake County and DAAS pages, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
