Learn how to determine if your rheumatoid arthritis patient needs a facility and get tips on chosing the best one.

Caring for someone with rheumatoid arthritis can bring special challenges, including knowing when — and how — to find the right facility to help your loved one get the best care possible.

Of course, the general preference is finding a way to keep caring for your rheumatoid arthritis patient at home, but there may come a time when an inpatient (live-in) facility is the best option for both you and your loved one. How do you know when it's time to seek outside care?

Your first step is to evaluate how the person with rheumatoid arthritis handles "Activities of Daily Living." These are basic day-to-day tasks, such as eating, dressing, bathing, going to the bathroom, and transferring (for instance, from bed to a chair). Bill Guerra, RN, BSN, who works at the Parkway Surgery Center in Henderson, Nev., and has extensive experience in dealing with rheumatoid arthritis patients, recommends asking yourself the following questions if the person is unable to handle these activities:

• Are you able to provide adequate care for your loved one with rheumatoid arthritis?
• Is your loved one responding to treatment at home? (Inpatient treatment may be an option before more potent anti-rheumatic drugs are given.)

If you answered "no" to both of these questions, you may consider transitioning the person with rheumatoid arthritis to an inpatient facility.

Transitioning to Inpatient Care

Inpatient care can be a better choice when your loved one needs round-the-clock care, or when no one is available to help at home.

If you decide that transitioning your family member into an inpatient facility is indeed the right choice, learn your options and remember that asking for help when you need it is more than okay — it is ideal.

Guerra recommends conducting some research and following these five steps:

• Ask your doctor for recommendations on inpatient facilities.
• Make sure the facility is experienced in and knowledgeable of rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
• Get and follow up with references. Ask the following questions: Do they like the facility? Why? How does their loved one feel being there? Is their rheumatoid arthritis improving?
• Spend time at the facility with your loved one, if possible. Are the people friendly? Does the staff attend to patients when they call? Does the staff seem knowledgeable? Is the facility clean?
• Find out about payment structure. Will your loved one's insurance company cover any or all of the expenses involved? What forms of payment does the facility deem acceptable, and are you comfortable with that?

Once you've chosen an inpatient facility for your rheumatoid arthritis patient, take time to prepare your loved one for the transition. Reassure the patient that this will be helpful in easing symptoms and managing day-to-day life. Talk about how often, and when, you plan to visit, and make sure that your loved one and the facility have a way to reach you at all times.