Look beyond the lobby when choosing a nursing home

There are only a fewer harder decisions to make in life than the decision of whether or not to put a loved one in a nursing home. The process of getting there is a difficult one as well, as you may recognize things your loved one can no longer do and/or needs help with that they might not be ready to accept.
Still, once the decision is made that the move to a nursing home is the best and right choice the next step is even more important. That step is choosing the right and comfortably affordable nursing home.
First and foremost, do not get fooled by fancy furniture and a clean lobby. Sure those two things are nice to have, but you must look beyond the lobby when choosing a nursing home.
This means shopping around and comparing and contrasting the pros and cons of any possible choices. Compile a list of possible nursing home choices and compare things like proximity to yourself, costs, staff to patient ratio, etc. Your own budget and the type of care needed are important things to factor in when putting together a list.
The next step is to create a list of questions to ask when you visit the nursing home options in person. Some important questions to ask are as follows:

• Does the facility have an abuse prevention training program?
• What steps are taken to monitor abuse should it occur?
• Is the facility up to code and equipped with smoke detectors, sprinklers, emergency exits, etc.?
• Is the staff overworked?
• Are background checks administered on all employees?

The aforementioned questions are definitely a good place to start but you should definitely compile more questions of your own. Ask these questions while visiting and also use your own eyes to answer additional questions.
Pay attention to how the staff interacts with the residents while you are there. A, so pay attention to the general upkeep of the facility. Keep your nose open for anything that might smell like stale urine — a sign that says the facility is not maintained regularly or properly.
In the end, one of the biggest factors in choosing the right nursing home is overall cost. Look out for tacked on fees for things like the dentist or physical therapy, something some homes tend to do.
Picking the right nursing home is always a challenge but if you take the time and put in the effort, it can be done. Your loved one’s safety is of the utmost importance, unfortunately there are still many incidents and forms of abuse that take place in nursing homes.
If you or a loved one feels they have been abused while in a nursing home you should contact a lawyer immediately. The attorney’s at Lombardi and Lombardi, P.A. have plenty of experience in nursing home negligence and can help you get yourself back on track. Call 732-564-7165 or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a consultation.
 
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney/client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.