A Checklist for Choosing the Right Nursing Home for Your Loved One

If you have a loved one who needs regular care that you cannot provide, you may have considered admitting them into a nursing home. This decision is never easy. Of course, you want to make sure that they have the proper care and support they need. You also do not expect them to become further injured while they stay in the facility. Finding the right nursing home for your loved one is never easy. Below, our Tampa nursing home abuse attorney provides a checklist that can help ensure you choose the right facility for your loved one.

Location and Services Offered 

It is important to talk to your loved one and ask if they wish to remain in the community they are currently in. If so, it is important to try and find one in the same location. The next step is to determine the health care services provided at each facility to determine if they fit your loved one’s needs. Not all nursing homes provide the same services, so this is an important step.

The Level of Care Offered 

You should ask any facility you are considering if your loved one can remain in the nursing home if their condition declines or improves. This is not always the case and getting the answer to this question can help your loved one avoid disruptive moves in the future. Also, not all facilities include medication management so it is important to ask if this is included in the care provided or if it is an additional charge.

Programming for Residents 

Isolation and loneliness are a leading cause of death among older Americans. Make sure that any facility you are considering provides engaging activities and opportunities for residents to socialize with each other.

Communication Protocols 

Make sure that any nursing home you are considering allows residents to talk with family members and friends via Skype, FaceTime, or another option to prevent loneliness. Also ensure that the facility will keep you updated about the status of your loved one and how they will communicate with you.

State Licensing 

It is critical to ensure that any nursing home’s state licensing is up to date. Also determine if they have had any serious challenges or issues, and if so, that they have been corrected. Also make sure any facility has a management disaster plan that addresses protocols for power outages, natural disasters, viral outbreaks, and other emergency situations.

Visit the Facility In Person 

Although you can make sure that state licenses are up to date, they have the necessary programming, and they offer the right level of care, there is nothing that can make up for your own personal feelings during an in-person visit. Do not only schedule a tour but also visit unannounced so you can get a real feel for the facility and the amount of care and support they provide.

Our Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in Tampa Can Help After Injury 

You can take all of the above steps, and even others, to ensure you choose the right facility for your loved one. Unfortunately, this is not always enough. If your loved one has already suffered an injury in a long-term care facility, our Tampa nursing home abuse attorneys at Kohn Law can help. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or chat with us online to schedule a consultation and to get the legal help you need.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html