Selecting a nursing care and rehabilitation community for a loved one can be a daunting task. You want the best possible care but are unsure of what to ask. How will you know if the community provides quality care? Will your loved one be treated with respect and dignity? Because the health and safety of your loved one is at stake, it’s important to do a little homework on the communities that you are considering.
If your loved one is in a hospital, have a frank conversation with the discharge planner or social worker. While a nursing home in a prime location might be helpful for visiting family and friends, you also need to consider the quality of the community. The discharge planner interacts with multiple nursing homes and can give you information regarding which homes have lower hospital readmission rates, services offered, and insurances accepted.
Once you have an idea of which nursing homes you want to consider, the next step is to take a tour. While most communities prefer a scheduled tour, a walk-in appointment outside of typical business hours has many benefits. First of all, the tour will most likely be conducted by care staff rather than a marketing professional. This can give you a insight into the reality of the community rather than receiving a sales pitch. Be sure to take your time and make observations regarding how the staff interacts with the residents. Are they professional and attentive? Are call bells unanswered for extended periods of time? Do you notice any odors or unsanitary conditions? Does the staff greet you in a friendly and approachable manner? Be sure to pull a staff member aside and ask about associate and resident satisfaction at the community. If you like what you see on your unscheduled tour, then you can follow-up with a call to the Admissions Director to schedule a conversation to regarding other questions you may have, such as admission availability or visitation hours.
Consult the Medicare Compare Website
Finally, consult the Medicare website for Nursing Home Compare found at https://medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare. This website can provide valuable information regarding the community’s staffing, deficiencies on prior health surveys, and quality measures.
Despite the best efforts of selecting the right nursing home, there are no guarantees that your loved one will receive quality care. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to have a full evaluation of the nursing home’s competency until after a patient is admitted. When dealing with a frail elder, clinical mismanagement can result in falls with major injury, preventable pressure ulcers, and avoidable death or decline. Too often these injuries occur because a nursing home fails to address the resident’s condition or listen to a family’s concerns. That is when you need the support of a nursing home attorney who can advocate for your family and pursue justified compensation for your loved one’s significant injuries.
When to Call a Nursing Home Injury Lawyer
If your loved one has been injured or suffered due to clinical mismanagement or neglectful nursing home care, it’s imperative that you have the support of a Philadelphia personal injury attorney to seek fair compensation for their suffering.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.
