Nursing Home Abuse: Signs You Should Watch Out For
Looking For a Good Nursing Home? Follow This Advice!
Finding a Good Nursing Home
Nursing home abuse is a serious offense which negatively impacts the quality of care your loved one gets. In some cases, these incidences may go unreported until it’s too late. If you suspect that a loved one is being abused, this post may help confirm your observations as well as give you the necessary steps you need to take to avert an out-of control situation.
Nursing home care doesn’t come cheap; in some places, this ranges between $60,000 and $80,000 per year. However, expensive care doesn’t always translate to good care. Some nursing homes are notorious for offering poor care due to a culture of intimidation and bullying.
Here are a few questions and observations you should pay attention to if you’re looking to find a nursing home for a loved one.
1. Does The Nursing Home Have A History Of Violations?
It’s important to do your research when you’re looking to place a loved one in a nursing home. In most cases, nursing home complaints are investigated by the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS).
Ask the nursing home how many complaints have been filed against the facility in the past year. Ask what have they been for. Finally, ask to see the reports. Alternatively, you can use U.S. News’s Best Nursing Homes site feature if you’re looking for more detailed information regarding a particular nursing home.
2. Does The Nursing Home Have A High Staff Turnover?
A high staff turnover may have several meanings. For instance, this could point to some kind of management issue. However, this could also point to lack of checks and balances regarding how workers treat nursing home individuals.
It’s always a good idea to ask to see the community’s records to determine if the high staff turnover is due to infractions on the part of the workers. By carrying out extensive research and asking the right questions, you’ll be able to make the right choice for your loved one.
3. Listen To Your Instincts
Lastly, it’s always advisable to listen to your instincts. If you have niggling doubts about a certain place, you shouldn’t brush them off because they’re not based on objective facts. Sometimes your best defense is your intuition. This may manifest itself in the management acting strangely, pools of water left on the premises or the residents looking uneasy and uncomfortable during a visit.
All these signs can go a long way in protecting your loved ones from potentially life-altering nursing home abuse.
Category: Lawyer's Advice
