| About one third of the nursing homes in the | | | | all times. Bedridden patients should have |
| United States have been cited for abuse. | | | | water within reach. |
| Because neglect and abuse often go | | | | |
| unreported, the real number of facilities | | | | Patients who can't drink without help should |
| with abusive staff is unknown. In 2003 USA | | | | be offered water frequently. This is not a |
| today reported statistics estimating that one | | | | luxury for patients, not is it servitude or |
| half of all nursing home patients are | | | | extra work for the staff. It is one of the |
| suffering from untreated pain. | | | | primary reasons that nursing homes exist! |
| | | | |
| For most families, nursing homes eventually | | | | Talk to the residents. Notice their grooming, |
| become a necessity. As love ones grow older, | | | | oral care, and nail care. Are they in good |
| many need constant supervision and 24 hour | | | | spirits or are the majority of residents |
| care. | | | | depressed or confused? |
| | | | |
| Nursing homes will offer a guided tour to | | | | Do some checking |
| sell their services. Don't rely on the | | | | |
| presentation that they want you to see, when | | | | Talk to loved ones of residents and ask them |
| they are prepared and on their best behavior. | | | | what they think about the level of care the |
| Do your own checking, in your own way, on | | | | nursing home provides and if they have ever |
| your own time, when they are not expecting | | | | had problems with the facility. |
| you. | | | | |
| | | | Look at the state survey of the nursing home. |
| Visit more than once and at different times | | | | The nursing home should have it on hand for |
| of day | | | | your review. |
| | | | |
| Visit the nursing homes you are considering | | | | Ask the nursing home about staffing levels. |
| at odd hours. Try to visit in the evening and | | | | Find out how many staff members work per |
| on weekends, when they are most likely to be | | | | shift, how many residents live at the |
| short staffed. Drop in near the end of | | | | facility and how many are bedridden or in |
| shifts, when the staff is most likely to be | | | | wheelchairs. |
| tired and irritable. | | | | |
| | | | Monitoring and ensuring proper care |
| It may sound mercenary, but you want to see | | | | |
| them at their worst. Your loved one will have | | | | Even after carefully screening and selecting |
| to live with them through these hours | | | | a nursing home, problems can still arise. |
| everyday. | | | | Sadly, in most cases, the level of care your |
| | | | loved one receives will directly correspond |
| Check out meal times | | | | to your level of involvement. Keep up the |
| | | | flow of communication with everyone involved |
| Try to eat a meal with the residents. Don't | | | | with your loved one's care, including |
| warn the nursing home, just drop in. offer to | | | | doctors, nurses, administrators, and other |
| pay for your meal if that is an issue. You | | | | staff. |
| are looking for food quality and to see if | | | | |
| the residents get the attention and the | | | | From the very start, let the nursing home |
| assistance they need while eating. | | | | know that you will be observing, that you |
| | | | will be involved, and that you know and |
| Malnutrition is a common problem in nursing | | | | understand the laws and what is required of |
| homes and can quickly send the elderly into a | | | | them. You can do this without seeming hostile |
| downward spiral of failing health. | | | | or combative. |
| | | | |
| While you're visiting | | | | Federal law requires that every patient has |
| | | | an individual plan of care. The nursing home |
| Pay attention to odors. Urine or feces odors | | | | should consult you when drafting this plan. |
| indicate residents that have not been changed | | | | If they have not, ask to see it. |
| or bathed. Neglecting basic hygiene can lead | | | | |
| to life threatening infections. It is also a | | | | Visit frequently, but not on a regular |
| warning sign of other type of neglect. | | | | schedule. Visit on different days of the week |
| | | | and at different times of day, when they are |
| Does everyone have water? Dehydration can | | | | not expecting you. Your loved one should be |
| kill a nursing home resident very quickly. | | | | fully bathed at least three times a week. |
| All residents should have water available at | | | | |