Tips to Help You Select the Best Care Facility
Deciding to move your parents or another loved one into a nursing home comes with a flood of emotions. Even though it is one of the most critical decisions a family must make, knowing the right questions to ask can make a big difference in your loved one’s future health and safety. Asking the right questions can help you avoid possibly dangerous facilities where residents may be subject to elder abuse or neglect.
Attorney Steve Watrel has fought for the rights of seniors in the Jacksonville, Florida, community for over 30 years. No one is more passionate about ensuring that nursing home residents receive the care they deserve. If you believe that a loved one has suffered injuries or abuse resulting from neglect in a nursing facility, contact our law practice for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your possible case.
Why Do I Need to Ask So Many Questions?
Asking as many questions as possible about staffing, turnover rates, and other statistics can uncover hidden red flags that may not be readily apparent. By asking specific questions of administration and staff and even seeking out residents and their families, you can get a feel about whether a potential nursing facility is suitable for your parents. Just as important is discovering those little details that point to potential problems.
Question Checklist for Administrators and Staff
In addition to asking about the facility’s financial health and whether it accepts Medicaid, talking with administrators and staff allows you to assess the nursing home’s culture and framework. Make sure you talk to nurses, aides, and other staff members separately from administrators, as they may give you a different picture of the facility.
Some potential questions to ask:
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio?
- Is there a pattern of high turnover?
- Do staff members feel overworked?
- How much time do staff members spend with residents daily?
- Have there been previous incidents of abuse or neglect
- What is the procedure when residents acquire infections?
- Do residents have the ability to set their own schedules?
- Are their social activities?
- Are administrators receptive to questions?
- Does the staff treat residents with dignity and respect?
- Does the facility have a full-time social worker?
- What is the facility’s policy when a resident’s first language is not English?
- Are background checks performed during the hiring process?
- Do visitors and staff wear name tags?
- Is there a sign-in procedure for visitors?
- Are there specialized services, like physical therapy and counseling?
- Are there policies and measures in place for wanderers?
- How often do residents shower or bathe?
- How many residents share a room?
- Are there call buttons beside beds and toilets?
Talking With Residents and Their Families
Speaking with residents and their families can give you a sense of whether they are satisfied with the level of care received. If possible, try to talk to these people when administrators are not around or out of earshot to get frank answers.
Consider asking the following:
- Does the staff meet their personal care needs with dressing, grooming, and bathing?
- Do they feel respected?
- How is the quality of the food? Are there sufficient choices?
- Are the dining room, dishes, and utensils clean?
- Is your privacy respected?
- What is your relationship like with the nurses and aides?
- Does the administration listen to your concerns?
- Do you feel the facility is safe?
- Is there a resident or family council?
- Are there a variety of activities?
- Are there activities for residents confined to their rooms?
- Are your spiritual needs met through services and advisors?
Observing Overall Facilities
Inspecting the nursing home as much as possible can give you a good indication of whether the facility is safe and what the care is like. Look at residents you speak with and those you don’t to determine if everyone appears well cared for. Assess overall cleanliness in patient rooms, bathrooms, and shower facilities. Do you see custodial staff repairing, maintaining and cleaning the facility, or do you perceive unpleasant smells, particularly urine, in certain places?
Other items you should note:
- Potential dangerous obstacles in rooms and hallways
- Sufficient lighting in all areas
- The presence of sturdy hand grips and safety aids in bathrooms
- Handrails in hallways
- Proper disposal of trash, hazardous, and soiled items
- Floors that are clean and not slippery
- Comfortable environmental temperature
- Clearly marked exits and stairways
- Fire extinguishers and clearly marked disaster routes
- Lounge areas with clean and comfortable furniture
Ensuring Overall Safe Care
Even when a nursing facility seems safe, mishaps can occur due to negligence. Steve Watrel and his staff can help ensure that you or your loved one gets the justice you deserve for an incident involving abuse or injury. Contact us today to discuss your nursing home case.
Tips to Help You Select the Best Care Facility
Deciding to move your parents or another loved one into a nursing home comes with a flood of emotions. Even though it is one of the most critical decisions a family must make, knowing the right questions to ask can make a big difference in your loved one’s future health and safety. Asking the right questions can help you avoid possibly dangerous facilities where residents may be subject to elder abuse or neglect.
Attorney Steve Watrel has fought for the rights of seniors in the Jacksonville, Florida, community for over 30 years. No one is more passionate about ensuring that nursing home residents receive the care they deserve. If you believe that a loved one has suffered injuries or abuse resulting from neglect in a nursing facility, contact our law practice for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your possible case.
Why Do I Need to Ask So Many Questions?
Asking as many questions as possible about staffing, turnover rates, and other statistics can uncover hidden red flags that may not be readily apparent. By asking specific questions of administration and staff and even seeking out residents and their families, you can get a feel about whether a potential nursing facility is suitable for your parents. Just as important is discovering those little details that point to potential problems.
Question Checklist for Administrators and Staff
In addition to asking about the facility’s financial health and whether it accepts Medicaid, talking with administrators and staff allows you to assess the nursing home’s culture and framework. Make sure you talk to nurses, aides, and other staff members separately from administrators, as they may give you a different picture of the facility.
Some potential questions to ask:
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio?
- Is there a pattern of high turnover?
- Do staff members feel overworked?
- How much time do staff members spend with residents daily?
- Have there been previous incidents of abuse or neglect
- What is the procedure when residents acquire infections?
- Do residents have the ability to set their own schedules?
- Are their social activities?
- Are administrators receptive to questions?
- Does the staff treat residents with dignity and respect?
- Does the facility have a full-time social worker?
- What is the facility’s policy when a resident’s first language is not English?
- Are background checks performed during the hiring process?
- Do visitors and staff wear name tags?
- Is there a sign-in procedure for visitors?
- Are there specialized services, like physical therapy and counseling?
- Are there policies and measures in place for wanderers?
- How often do residents shower or bathe?
- How many residents share a room?
- Are there call buttons beside beds and toilets?
Talking With Residents and Their Families
Speaking with residents and their families can give you a sense of whether they are satisfied with the level of care received. If possible, try to talk to these people when administrators are not around or out of earshot to get frank answers.
Consider asking the following:
- Does the staff meet their personal care needs with dressing, grooming, and bathing?
- Do they feel respected?
- How is the quality of the food? Are there sufficient choices?
- Are the dining room, dishes, and utensils clean?
- Is your privacy respected?
- What is your relationship like with the nurses and aides?
- Does the administration listen to your concerns?
- Do you feel the facility is safe?
- Is there a resident or family council?
- Are there a variety of activities?
- Are there activities for residents confined to their rooms?
- Are your spiritual needs met through services and advisors?
Observing Overall Facilities
Inspecting the nursing home as much as possible can give you a good indication of whether the facility is safe and what the care is like. Look at residents you speak with and those you don’t to determine if everyone appears well cared for. Assess overall cleanliness in patient rooms, bathrooms, and shower facilities. Do you see custodial staff repairing, maintaining and cleaning the facility, or do you perceive unpleasant smells, particularly urine, in certain places?
Other items you should note:
- Potential dangerous obstacles in rooms and hallways
- Sufficient lighting in all areas
- The presence of sturdy hand grips and safety aids in bathrooms
- Handrails in hallways
- Proper disposal of trash, hazardous, and soiled items
- Floors that are clean and not slippery
- Comfortable environmental temperature
- Clearly marked exits and stairways
- Fire extinguishers and clearly marked disaster routes
- Lounge areas with clean and comfortable furniture
Ensuring Overall Safe Care
Even when a nursing facility seems safe, mishaps can occur due to negligence. Steve Watrel and his staff can help ensure that you or your loved one gets the justice you deserve for an incident involving abuse or injury. Contact us today to discuss your nursing home case.
