Selecting the best nursing home for a family member can be a difficult, yet extremely important process. The right nursing home for you or your loved one may not be the right one for another person. There are many different criteria that you can use as a guide to help ensure your loved one will be well cared for.
At the law firm of Snyder & Wenner, P.C. in Phoenix, Arizona, our medical malpractice attorneys know how important it is to select a nursing home where your loved one feels comfortable and will receive appropriate care. Here are some issues you will want to consider.
Nursing Home Location
Select a location close to the family members who will be visiting most often. This will increase the frequency of visits and ensure that you can respond quickly in case of emergency. Studies show that family visits can have a positive effect on recovery time and the happiness of nursing home residents.
Frequent and unannounced visits help ensure quality care. You can monitor your loved one’s condition, increase the likelihood that the staff will do a good job taking care of your loved one, and participate in care planning.
Special Needs of a Nursing Home Resident
If your loved one has special needs, you should choose a facility that can meet those needs. There are many specialized nursing home facilities in the Phoenix area, so it will take some research to find one that is affordable, nearby, and offers all the services your loved one needs.
Overall Facility and Staff Quality
Once you’ve located a few facilities that meet the needs of your loved one, you should take a full tour of each and ask yourself the following questions:
- Which one has a nicer atmosphere? Are the facilities clean and decorated nicely? Do residents appear happy? Do the rooms look comfortable?
- Which one has the best quality food and menu selection? Are the same meals repeated frequently? Do the residents appear to enjoy them?
- Which one has the best activities calendar for the residents? Are there a variety of fun events planned on a regular basis?
- What do the records of care for each nursing home reveal? Do they have past violations on record or lawsuits against them? You can check this information by contacting the government agency that regulates nursing homes.
- How does the staff make you feel? Do the administrators and staff members make you feel welcome during your tour? Are they friendly and professional? Do they seem caring?
- Which facility has more staff members? Nursing home neglect can become a problem when there is high staff turnover and/or understaffing. Find out what the staff-to-resident ratio is and whether that complies with state law.
Word-of-Mouth Reputation
One of the most important things you can do before selecting a facility is talk to current residents and their families about the facility. Ask them what they like and dislike about the facility or if they have ever been suspicious of nursing home abuse or neglect. If the facility has a good reputation, then chances are its staff will do a good job taking care of your loved one.
Choosing a nursing home is the first step in avoiding problems such as nursing home abuse and neglect. If, even after making a careful choice, you see signs of abuse or neglect, talk to a nursing home neglect lawyer about your concerns. Contact the Snyder & Wenner, P.C. law firm for a free consultation with a medical malpractice attorney.