Attorney for Abuse & Neglect at Heritage Health Jacksonville

When you select a highly rated nursing home, you reduce much of the risk of suffering nursing home abuse. Facilities who provide proven quality care as demonstrated by Medicare reports and ratings are more likely to have properly vetted employees, good management, and the right priorities for resident health and safety.

To find an excellent nursing home, start by learning about what facilities are located in your area. You can ask family and acquaintances, doctors, or social workers for recommendations of good nursing homes. You may also be able to get information on area nursing homes from your local senior and community activity center or another community program that aids senior citizens.

Once you know what your options are, thoroughly research each facility so you are able to weigh their pros and cons. Use the ratings and health inspection reports from medicare.gov and reviews on other websites. You can also call your local long-term care ombudsman, state health department, or state licensing agency to ask if they have further information on the facilities you’re interested in.

Beware of exaggerated advertising on company websites for nursing homes. These sites are useful for comparing services and amenities and gathering basic information like where facilities are located and how to contact them, but they will always be biased when it comes to the quality of care they provide. Don’t be fooled by good marketing, and always rely more heavily on more neutral resources for your research.

Once you’ve narrowed down your list of facilities to your top picks, it’s best to request tours of each so you can see them in person. On your visits, pay attention to how clean the facility is, how friendly the staff are, and how the environment feels in general. Don’t be shy about asking questions. Ask about their ratio of staff to residents, how much time is spent caring for each resident daily, what are staff members’ qualifications, and what procedures do they have in place for filing grievances. And if you have more questions later, be sure to call or visit again.

With this research you should feel prepared to make a confident decision as to which nursing home suits your needs best and provides an atmosphere you’re comfortable with. However, keep in mind that even the best facilities can have isolated cases of abuse or neglect from time to time, so don’t believe you can let your guard down completely.

When you or a family member moves into assisted living, make plans to stay in contact and have frequent visits. It is known that residents who are isolated from loved ones are at higher risk for abuse. Attentive family and friends are also better equipped to help frail residents report abuse. Both residents and loved ones benefit from learning the signs of nursing home abuse so they are better prepared to report it if necessary. Here are some of the most common signs:

• Untreated severe bedsores
• Unexplained injuries like bruises, burns, or scars
• Evidence of poor circulation like sunken cheeks or eyes
• Weight loss or malnourishment not due directly to an illness
• Frequent trips to the emergency room or doctor
• Wrong type or the wrong amount of medication administered
• Poor hygiene or unwashed clothes or hair
• Instances of wandering or elopement
• Frequently misplaced or lost personal items
• A lack of basic necessities, including utilities, water, and food
• A dirty room or bathroom
• Frequent trouble sleeping
• Unusual violent or withdrawn behavior
• Sudden depression or confusion
• Signs of trauma like rocking back and forth

If you or a loved one ever suspects or experiences abuse at a nursing home, immediately take action to follow the facility’s procedures for filing a complaint and report it to a staff supervisor or the facility administrator. It is their job to investigate and fix any deficiencies in resident care. However, sometimes circumstances that allow for abuse originates with management, so if the administer fails to take appropriate action to rectify the situation, it’s best to seek outside help from a doctor, a state agency, or your local long-term care ombudsman.

Unfortunately, nursing home abuse can cause serious harm, injury, and even death to vulnerable residents. If this happens to you or a loved one, you may need further help from the law.