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Nursing Home & Assisted Care Abuse

Choosing a Nursing Home is a Tough Decision

It is difficult watching a loved one age and it is even more trying when you have to choose a nursing home. When you are considering which nursing home would be best for your elderly family member, you need to take your time. There are many great nursing homes available, but there are also facilities that participate in nursing home abuse and neglect of residents. By carefully evaluating various nursing homes, you can feel comfortable knowing that you have made an informed decision.

The AARP compiled a list of suggestions for families who are charged with choosing a nursing home for their loved one. Below is a summary of AARP’s recommendations.

Appeal for more time. The majority of nursing-home admissions come after a hospital stay, even if it was brief. Families are sometimes only given 24 hours to find a nursing home. If your family member is on Medicare, you may be able to appeal the discharge to give you more time to find a nursing home in New York.

Contact the Eldercare Locator. This agency, which can be reached at (800) 677-1116, will be able to put you in contact with your local Area Agency on Aging. The Area Agency on Aging provides lists of nursing homes in the local area. You should also get in contact with the local long-term care ombudsman. Even though an ombudsman can’t recommend a nursing home, he or she can let you know if a nursing home has had problems and can offer staffing and administration information.

Stop by the nursing home without an appointment. When you make an appointment to check out a nursing home, the staff and administration will be on their best behavior and will make sure the facility is clean. If you are able to visit during regular business hours, don’t make an appointment. That way you will get a better idea of how the facility is run.

Look around the facility. Watch out for any signs of abuse and neglect. Does the nursing home appear clean? Are some of the residents physically restrained? If so, find out why. How many caregivers do you see? If you can’t tell the ratio of caregivers to residents, do not hesitate to ask. Understaffed nursing homes can lead to neglect of the residents.

Check out the kitchen. A good nursing home will not decline this request. When you are in the kitchen make sure it appears clean and that food is properly stored. Also make sure fresh drinking water is available. Dehydration can occur among nursing home residents and is a form of nursing home neglect.

Research the facility. Nursing homes are required to provide their most recent state inspection survey, which will include any recent violations found by state inspectors. Be aware that even some of the best facilities will have occasional problems.

Once you have done your homework, you will feel good knowing that you have done your best in choosing a nursing home.

If you later find out that your loved one is the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, contact the New York nursing home abuse attorneys at Rappaport, Glass, Greene & Levine at (800) 734-9445 for a free legal consultation.