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Deciding that your loved one’s life would be best spent in assisted living may be difficult, especially with the anxiety of knowing that nursing home abuse and neglect can happen anywhere. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to ensure they receive the best care available. In continuation of World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, our team would like to provide some ways to help you find a quality nursing home for your loved one that will keep them safe and healthy.
Do Your Online Homework To Find The Right Nursing Home
Fortunately, starting your search for a nursing home is as easy as pulling out your smartphone or laptop at home. One of the best resources you can find in the research and decision-making process is Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare, which uses a star-rating system from 1 to 5 and posts recent inspection documents. You can also look at the facility’s online reviews, such as Google reviews or Yelp.
Keep Close To Home
Putting your loved one into the care of a nursing home can be anxiety-inducing for both you and the older person. It can ease your worries if you choose a nursing home that is physically close to your home so that you can make regular visits, especially in the beginning. It can also ensure that the nursing staff is giving the right care to your loved one, since they will know you make frequent visits.
Take A Tour To Observe Residents And Staff
Make at least an initial visit to every nursing home that you are interested in choosing. This will give you an overall sense of each place and how they take care of each resident. Pay close attention to details about the facility, such as the residents’ grooming, cleanliness, and overall happiness levels. You want to ensure that the residents and the nursing staff have warm interactions with each other and that staff is not overwhelmed with the number of residents. For instance, staff members should know each resident’s name.
Be Aware Of Red Flags When Finding The Right Nursing Home
Now that we’ve covered what you should look for in a quality nursing home, it’s important that you know what to look out for, too. These are some examples of red flags among poor nursing homes that can help you determine what facilities to avoid:
- A poor violation history
- Severe violations, such as patients wandering off the facility grounds
- Incompetent or inaccessible administrators
- A bad feeling in your gut by the overall impression of the facility
At Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman PLLC, our attorneys are committed to protecting older adults and their families from harm and injustice. If your loved one suffered from nursing home abuse or neglect, our team is here to advocate on your behalf.
Contact our firm to learn more about your potential legal options.
