Ensuring that an elderly family member is well-taken care of can be a daunting task. When you must move them into a nursing home, the thought is downright scary. Nursing homes and rehabilitation hospitals, unfortunately, are not always taking the best care of your loved ones.
All nursing homes are not created equal; even in the best of circumstances, you have to be vigilant in order for your loved one to receive the best care. And while everything may look bright and shiny, things are not always as they seem. The family must be very involved to ensure that your loved one receives the care they need. And even then, it can be a tough battle.
Here are some of the things you can and should do when searching for a facility:
-Visit several care homes; don’t ever rely on the first visit.
-Visit facilities at odd times, such as overnight; this may be difficult, but be persistent.
-Make visits on different days; weekends are a good time.
-Make sure that the facility is well-staffed.
One of the things to be wary of is a nursing home with fewer employees than is necessary. Check to make sure that the patient to staff ratio is adequate, especially during the overnight hours.
When the staffing is inadequate, patients do not get fed properly; they may not receive medications on time, and they may receive the wrong medications.
Check to ensure that bed linens are changed often so that your loved one doesn’t lie in their own waste. This is more common than you may think. Also if the patient is bed-bound, staff should be moving them and changing their position in the bed so that bed sores don’t form.
Most of all, be vigilant when choosing a place to care for your loved one. Be aware of what is happening on a day-to-day basis. And, if you have issues with the nursing home, make it known to the manager of the facility. Keep notes about everything that happens and doesn’t happen during the stay.
If you have questions or issues with a nursing home or rehabilitation facility, contact one of our attorneys. Visit our Online Legal Directory to find and attorney in your area.