When a loved one hits a certain point in life, they sometimes need extra care. In that case, a nursing home may be the best option for them to receive the care they need, so how do you choose the best one? Here are a few tips our nursing home abuse attorneys put together for you to consider when choosing one.
Tips to finding the Right Nursing Home for your Loved One
We know how difficult this choice can be for some, and we know that finding the right place is tough. These tips are just things we have found to ensure your loved one does not experience abuse or neglect.
Tip 1: Take in all Suggestions
When finding a nursing home, it’s important to take in suggestions and personal reviews. This means paying attention to a place's Google Reviews and what people have said about the place. It is also important to ask people you trust if they have had any experience or know of any good nursing homes in the area. You can also ask a doctor to give you a referral which they sometimes may provide.
All of this information can be compiled and narrow down your list of options, but it is important to keep more than just one suggestion in mind when making your decision. You can also use tools such as https://medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare to help aid you in your choice.
Tip 2: Visit the Nursing Homes you are interested in
It is important to know if the location meets all the needs of your loved one. As well as ensuring you consider their happiness while they are there just as much as what type of care they will receive. If possible, you may even want to bring that loved one with you to get their thoughts depending on the situation, of course.
There’s a few things to consider when you visit the facility. Since these are usually guided tours, you will be able to ask any question you may have, but more importantly, it is important to keep the internal questions in mind. Here are a few of those types of questions we compiled for you to ask yourself while you are visiting the facility:
Is my loved one more of an active or social individual? Does this facility provide them with the activities and social interaction they need?
Does the facility have someone to provide the specialized care that your loved one needs?
Would your loved one want more of a religiously connected facility?
Can you easily visit the facility when you would like to see your loved one?
These are just a few questions to keep in mind, along with many others. There are also going to be things you are going to want to look out for while at the facility itself as well. Sometimes words don’t give you the full picture and seeing what actually goes on will give you a better idea of what to expect. Some things you can look out for are:
Is the facility Medicaid or Medicare certified?
Does it have good handicap accessibility?
Do the residents look well cared for?
Do the residents and staff seem to have a good relationship?
Tip 3: Once Decided, Read Your Contract
Once you have all of those questions answered and have found a nursing home that suits all of your loved ones and your needs, make sure you thoroughly read through your contract. Ask questions about anything in the contract that you do not understand. You also should ask to see the current inspection reports and the certifications of the facility. For your own personal records, keep a copy of the signed contract, so that if ever an issue arises, you are aware of what it states.
What Happens if the Facility abused or neglected my loved one?
Well, we would hope with the tips provided that this would never occur, but sometimes it can. If your loved one has experienced nursing home abuse or neglect, call our office today. We know how difficult it can be to learn that a loved one has been mistreated or neglected, therefore we are here to help you gain the compensation you deserve. No one should go through this type of pain and suffering. So call the nursing home abuse attorneys, Demesmin and Dover, that care more at 866-954-MORE (6673).