When considering a nursing home to care for your loved one, you should pay attention to the state of affairs after the sales pitch.
Staff and administration should provide quality care and monitor residents closely. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
Instances of elder abuse and neglect have become rampant in community settings recently. Here are a few of the most notable indicators a nursing home is wrong for your loved one.
Poor Reviews
Before taking your loved ones to a nursing home facility, do a proper due diligence check of the facility online.
When conducting an appraisal of a facility, check out the bad reviews on Google and Yelp. State agency inspectors check for compliance and issue citations for violations yearly. Facilities with numerous complaints in the Annual State Survey are a red flag.
A few bad reviews are acceptable. But if you find that a facility has a pattern or several negative reviews, the home may not be safe for your loved one.
Filthy Facility
A filthy facility is a major turn-off because a number of things could be wrong. When examining a facility’s sanitation, pay attention to the common areas, restrooms, food trays, bedrooms, and trash cans.
A poorly maintained facility could mean that the nursing home has:
- Inattentive administrators: Administrators should be close to the residents to improve their living situation. Being distant from the residents could lead to a dangerous living environment.
- Unprofessional staff: Improper employee integrity checks may result in untidy living conditions or rude staff. Look for a facility that conducts a background check on prospective employees.
- Inadequate staffing: Low staff count means caregivers work long hours in harsh conditions. Another unmistakable sign of understaffing is urine odor in the facility and overflowing trash cans.
None of the possibilities above bodes well for residents.
Inflexible Visiting Policy
A proper facility allows family members to visit their loved ones at any time, provided they inform the staff prior.
Though not always true, facilities with fixed or limited visiting hours have something to hide more often than not.
High Staff Turnover
High turnover rates could mean a nursing home has poor management practices. Often, staff quit due to low wages, overworking, or unsatisfactory working conditions.
Constantly hiring new people increases the likelihood of medical errors. Regularly changing management or staff is detrimental to the quality and consistency of care your loved one may receive.
Unanswered Call Lights
In any long-term care facility, call lights will inevitably buzz non-stop— often an elderly needing assistance. One out of four adults aged 65 and above fall every year. Falls are a public health concern, particularly in nursing homes.
The lights may be hard to catch during a visit but ignored, or delayed responses are a warning sign. Call lights are usually a good indicator of care in nursing homes or lack thereof.
Unsafe Location
Safety and security are vital factors for elderly residents. Residents spend most of their time indoors. Albeit occasionally, a secure neighborhood allows residents to enjoy quality outdoor spaces when they venture out.
A facility should have adequate security personnel at the gate to prevent one from wandering beyond the nursing home.
Inadequate Socialization Activities
A well-managed facility should have regular social activities. Isolating the elderly is detrimental to their physical and mental well-being. Residents should have the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities indoors and outdoors. Some activities to look out for include exercise classes, outings, board games, and faith-based services. These activities show that the facility values the well-being of residents.
Relinquishing the primary care of a loved one can be scary. However, research on these facilities will help you find the peace that their new home is safe, clean, and capable.
We have decades of experience representing loved ones harmed in inadequate nursing home facilities. Call Williams & Swee attorneys today to schedule an appointment.
