Choosing a Good Nursing Home

When you place a loved one into the care of a nursing home, you want to be sure that you are making the right decision. Due to the nature of nursing home abuse, it can be hard to spot the signs of a questionable nursing home at first, but there are some ways to make sure that you are making the best choice for your loved ones.

For example, in a recent study from the Department of Health and Human Services, researchers found that approximately 22 percent of patients who stayed in a nursing home for 35 days or less were injured as a result of their care. In addition, at least 59 percent of these injuries were found to be preventable in some way. The following is just a short list of things to look out for when choosing a nursing home.

Cleanliness

One of the first things that you can easily observe about a nursing home is the condition of the facilities. One thing to be aware of is foul odors, which can indicate poor cleaning practices. In addition, it is important to be aware of the smaller details that could indicate further hazards or issues, such as missing fire extinguishers or frayed carpeting. Any kind of sanitation issue can be harmful to patients of nursing homes.

Appearance

While you would not want to entrust your loved ones with a nursing home that looks run-down, or dirty, it is equally important to not be fooled by a nursing home’s tidy appearance. Just because a facility looks good on the outside does not mean that it will necessarily provide quality medical care. In fact, according to a recent New York Times article, researchers have found that some nursing homes have made use of a “chandelier effect,” attempting to offset poor medical care with lavish amenities.

In addition to the appearance of the facilities, it is just as important to keep an eye on the appearances of the staff and residents. Warning signs to look out for include staff that look worn out or tired. In addition, the condition of residents, such as whether they are happy and comfortable, can be another indicator of possible problems in a nursing home.

Staff

Just as any other facility needs to be properly staffed in order to operate properly, so too must nursing homes have adequate staffing. The dangers associated with understaffing can lead to serious injury to nursing home residents, and can include:

• missed medication;
• bedsores;
• malnutrition;
• prescription errors;
• diagnosis errors; and
• other forms of abuse.

However, simply having more bodies in a nursing home does not mean that a facility is properly staffed. In addition to understaffing, undertraining could create a variety of problems for residents.

Contact an Attorney

While finding a good nursing home for your loved one can be hard, it’s not impossible. If you or your loved one has been injured as a result of a nursing home’s negligent or reckless actions in Charleston, then you need the assistance of an experienced South Carolina attorney. Contact the David Aylor Law Offices today in order to speak with a dedicated, experienced attorney.