A nursing home should be a place that you feel good about, whether you’re looking for one for your parents or other loved ones. That’s why it’s important to know how to evaluate different nursing homes and the red flags to spot when choosing your ideal nursing home.
The nursing home abuse lawyers at Pope & Howard, P.C. in Atlanta, GA understand that evaluating nursing homes is easier said than done. That’s why the legal team at Pope & Howard wants to share tips on how to determine which nursing homes are suitable for your loved ones.
Read more about red flags to watch out for below or contact the nursing home abuse lawyers at Pope & Howard to learn more about your options if you think you have a potential nursing home abuse case.
When looking for a nursing home that’s suitable for your loved ones, one of the major things to ask or inquire about is the turnover rate of staff and management. If the nursing home has a high turnover rate, then this is usually a red flag, as it indicates poor environmental factors or other kinds of poor treatment. Plus, if staff is leaving the nursing home quickly, that brings to mind concerns about the nursing home’s treatment of its residents.
Inspections Due to Complaints
Nursing homes must be inspected annually for the condition and treatment of residents. However, some inspections can come from additional complaints made by residents or employees of the nursing home. If possible, ask for a copy of the annual state survey and any copies of complaint investigations. This will tell you how many complaints have been made about the nursing home and whether you should avoid it.
If you see residents waiting a long time to receive care or attendance, then this could be a red flag to avoid that nursing home institution. Long wait times could mean that the nursing home doesn’t have an adequate number of staff members to care for the residents in the building. If this is the case, then you’ll want to avoid that nursing home, as it could mean that your loved one may not receive the care he or she needs at all times.
If you smell any strange odors like urine, this can be an indication that there is not enough cleaning staff or that the staff doesn’t do a good job of keeping the facility clean. For many reasons, this is an obvious red flag.
Now that you know some of the red flags to look for when choosing a nursing home, you can be better prepared for your search. But if you are moving your elderly resident because you suspect abuse in the current nursing home, contact the nursing home abuse lawyers at Pope & Howard in Atlanta, GA as soon as possible. Our firm is here to help!