13 Things To Look For In Any Nursing Home

So you've finally decided that the time is right to place your cherished loved one into a long-term nursing home facility. How do you know what criteria to consider and what questions you should be asking? The answer, while still complicated, is probably easier than you think. Anyone can take a look at the outside of a facility, poke their head around the grounds, and come to a decision. But you want to make more than just a snap judgment; you want to make an informed decision, the right decision. This is a loved one we are talking about after all.

You obviously want the best care for your family member, and while many nursing homes have great, caring employees, others do not. Many nursing homes are understaffed and are unable to provide adequate care to their residents. Unfortunately, some nursing home facilities in Iowa and throughout the U.S. have been known to be involved in nursing home abuse claims including emotional abuse, malnutrition, dehydration, neglect, sexual assault, overuse or improper use of restraints, and more.

We've complied the 13 most compressive ways to assess and examine nursing homes:

• Write out a list of important questions to ask
• Schedule a tour of the facility
• Meet the administrator
• Meet the director of nursing
• Note your first impression of the facility
• Talk to the reception staff to see how you are treated
• Take note of your surroundings (treatment of the residents, odor, sounds etc.)
• Look to see if the facility is clean
• Note if the facility is calm or chaotic
• Look to see if the residents look cared for
• Get an information packet on the facility
• Talk to family members you see there to get their opinions about the facility
• Ask to speak with a current resident of the facility

It is really important to speak with residents and family members, as they will be the best insight into determining the quality of care that residents of the facility actually receive. Through talking with them, you should be able to tell if they are truly satisfied with the care they are receiving, the activities planned, as well as the quality of food.

Be sure to take note of just how many members of staff are on duty at any given time. If you have to, visit the nursing home several times on different days and at different times to get a true sense of the number of staff working, not just during a scheduled visit. Understaffed nursing homes put their residents at a greater risk of neglect, which is another equally serious form of abuse.

If you realize that your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse in Iowa, whether intentionally or through neglect, you need to contact a knowledgeable attorney who is skilled in handling these types of claims who thoroughly explain the legal rights of your loved one and your legal options in the matter of the abuse.

By: George D Murphy III

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If you believe your family member has been a victim of nursing home abuse in Iowa, contact the law offices of Brady & O’Shea. You will speak with an experienced Iowa personal injury attorney who can give you answers to your questions.