Although there is not a full proof way to choose a nursing home, there are steps you can take to better ensure the safety of your family members. By asking questions and looking for signs at the facility you can better prevent unnecessary instances of nursing home neglect and abuse from occurring. Here are a few questions you can ask the facility (information from Medicare):
1. Is the home and the current administrator licensed?
2. Does the home conduct background checks on all staff?
3. Does the home have special services units?
4. Is there nursing home neglect and abuse prevention training?
5.
As with any important decision, by doing your homework you can help put your mind at ease with your final decision. Some other useful tips include:
- The nursing home and its administrator should be licensed by the State to operate
- Do the nursing home’s procedures to screen potential employees for a history of abuse meet your State’s requirements? Your State’s Ombudsman program might be able to help you with this information.
- Some nursing homes have special service units like rehabilitation, Alzheimer's, and hospice. Learn if there are separate waiting periods or facility guidelines for when residents would be moved on or off the special unit.
- Do the nursing home’s training programs educate employees about how to recognize resident abuse and neglect, how to deal with aggressive or difficult residents, and how to deal with the stress of caring for so many needs? Are there clear procedures to identify events or trends that might lead to abuse and neglect, and on how to investigate, report, and resolve your complaints?
- Are there policies or procedures to safeguard resident possessions?
If you have any reason to believe that you that your or a love one has been injured or neglected in a nursing home or assisted living facility call
800-437-2571 anytime for a
free, confidential no obligation consultation with one of our attorneys experienced in handling nursing home abuse cases or use our convenient
Free Case Evaluation submission form.
