Choosing a nursing home for a loved one can be a tough decision to make. After you’ve chosen a nursing home is the best course of action for your loved one’s well-being and overall health, the next difficult decision is which nursing home would be best for them. This is not an easy task, and in many cases, this is a last case resort chosen out of necessity. When someone requires 24-hour care, a nursing home is an excellent option to consider for them and you.
Why is this important?
Nursing homes exist to care for and protect the elderly. This is a foundational requirement all nursing homes must meet. However, we’ve all heard of nursing homes neglecting and failing to provide adequate living conditions for their elderly residents. If you suspect your loved one may be having a hard time, there are ways to tell if a loved one may be a victim of elder abuse. These situations, though they do occur, are not exactly common. Nursing homes can be a great option for your loved one to receive the care they require to be happy and healthy. Carefully research and meet with the facility during your research and selection phase. In the meantime, here are some things to consider when choosing a nursing home for your loved one.
Key components to consider include:
What are the essentials
Consider what is essential for your loved one and what is vital for their health. These include nursing care, a religious affiliation, physical therapy, special care units, activity options, access to a transportation service, and more. The goal is to make this transition as easy as possible to help your loved one feel cared for while ensuring their needs are met.
Consider the location of the nursing home
The nursing home’s location is crucial because it can make it easier or harder for family and friends to visit. It is important to also keep in mind climate and expected weather throughout the year. How will your loved one feel about the weather throughout the year where the nursing home is located?
Visiting the facility is essential
Schedule a tour of the facility with or without your loved one, so you and they can see how they feel about the facility. Take a look around. Do the residents appear to enjoy the facility? Is the staff attentive and prepared? You can also schedule additional visits to the facility to determine what you think about it over the course of two or more visits.
Research the facility and staff to give you peace of mind
Keep an eye out for any possible red flags. Unfortunately, some nursing homes have a bad reputation, which ends up making some people hesitant to entrust their loved ones to the care of a nursing home. We always recommend that people do their research and determine if there are any obvious red flags in the facility or with the staff. It is rare, but the last thing you want is for an incident to occur at the nursing home with your loved one. A nursing home is a place for your loved one to be cared for and protected, so making sure any potential facilities you are considering meet this foundational requirement is essential.
What happens if you suspect something may be wrong?
If you have entrusted your loved one’s care to a nursing home and you believe they are experiencing any type of abuse – whether physical, emotional, or psychological – the next step is to consult with an elder care and nursing home neglect attorney to discover what your options are. Our elderly loved ones deserve quality care, respect, and dignity, and when those entrusted to care for them fail to do so, legal action must be taken.
