Aging:

Worried if you’re choosing the right nursing home?

As your loved ones get older, they may decide to move into a nursing home. There are a tremendous amount of benefits from living in a nursing home, but picking the right one can be very difficult. In addition, once you choose a nursing home you need to ensure the facility is taking the proper precautions when caring for your loved ones.

The first step in choosing a nursing home is simple — educate yourself. Begin with talking to other people who have dealt with nursing homes or have loved ones in nursing homes. One of the best resources is www.Medicare.gov, which compares nursing homes and uses a rating system similar to how one would rate a hotel. Once you have your list of nursing homes narrowed down, you need to schedule a visit. Some of the basic factors you should consider are:

Staffing — Is the nursing home properly staffed? Is there a lot of turnover with staff? Does the staff seemed rushed? Does the staff seem happy and genuinely interested in you? Are there enough nurses on staff? Although certified nursing assistants deal with most patients, you want to ensure there are a high level of registered nurses on staff, as this helps with the quality of care.

Residents — Are the current residents happy and seem engaged in activities, or do they seem groggy and overmedicated? Are residents treated with respect? Talk to other families of the residents and get their thoughts on the nursing home.

Cleanliness — Is the nursing home clean? Many nursing homes can have funky odors, smell of urine or have an overwhelming deodorizer smell to cover up these unwelcoming odors.

Accidents — How does the nursing home react when someone falls? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falling is the largest problem in nursing homes.

Once you have done your homework and selected a nursing home, you need to stay involved. Although you may have chosen an excellent facility, you want to make sure your loved one’s care continues at the highest level. Unfortunately, an estimated 2.1 million seniors are the victim of some form of abuse. What is even more concerning is research shows that for every case reported, there may be as many as five more cases of abuse that go unreported. You need to visit your loved one often and be aware of possible problems they may encounter. Some common signs of nursing home neglect include:

• Dehydration

• Malnutrition

• Poor personal hygiene

•Unsanitary living conditions

• Soiled bed linens

• Unusual bruising or bleeding

• Sudden and unexplained changes in weight

• Bed sores

• Sudden changes in mood or emotional health

If you suspect something is wrong or your loved one is being mistreated, speak up. Immediately inform the nursing home of your concerns and continue to follow up to ensure your concerns are addressed. Make sure you document any problems, including the date, time and staff members involved, so the management or a state agency can properly investigate your concerns. Most abuse or neglect happens over a period of time, so staying involved and speaking up is imperative if you want your loved one to have the best possible care. If problems persist or you have concerns that are not being addressed, you may need legal representation.

Cogburn Law Offices represents individuals and families subjected to nursing home abuse and neglect. In fact, you do not pay a fee, unless your case is successful. If you have any concerns, please don’t wait and get help now.

Jamie Cogburn is co-founder of Cogburn Law Offices.

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