Shopping List To Reduce Risk of Nursing Home Neglect
Many families who are looking for a nursing home to provide the care for a loved one that they can not provide in their own home, do less research about facilities in their area than they would do when buying a new car. There are several steps that can be taken when evaluating homes that can increase the chances of finding a quality facility and reduce the risk of nursing home neglect.
This week, the Yakima Herald-Republic, the local paper of Yakima, Washington, published a helpful “shopping list” designed to help family members find the right nursing home for their loved one.
In many cases, families are faced with a crisis when attempting to locate a nursing home, and they do not have a lot of time to shop for facilities. Therefore, most families simply rely on the advise or recommendations of their doctor or hospital. However, the Yakima Herald-Republic points out several useful recommendations that can help differentiate a good nursing home from a bad one:
- Visit the nursing home: A lot can be learned by a personal visit to the home to observe how the residents and staff members interact with each other.
- Sniff test: While most homes may have some odor, comparing the smell of different homes can tell a lot. When staff members do not quickly clean soiled sheets, the odor can build up, providing a telling sign of potential problems.
- Speak to administrators, nurses and residents: Gaining first hand information and opinions about the nursing home can be helpful.
- Ask questions: Ask the facility for information about turnover rates among head administrators and nursing directors, as well as the number of temporary contract aids compared to permanent staff to gain a better idea about the way the facility functions.
- Check the report cards: By law, nursing homes must display results of surveys by state regulators on the front counter or some other visible place. A perfect score is zero, but look for at types of deficiencies noted, and specifically look for deficiencies related to staff errors.
- Visit the internet: There are several websites on the internet which provide information about nursing homes and allow families to compare homes based on geography, size and regulatory results.
NURSING HOME NEGLECT ATTORNEYS
The nursing home attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate potential lawsuits for nursing home neglect and abuse throughout the United States. While research before placing a loved one in a nursing home is important, it is equally as important to keep a close eye on the level of care provided once your family member is in the home. Watch for signs of nursing home abuse or poor care, and speak up if you have concerns.
If a friend or family member have suffered a severe injury, such as bedsores, dehydration or abuse, as a result of nursing home negligence, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
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