Heritage Health Dwight

You may not be able to supervise every moment of your loved one’s care in their nursing home, but you will rest easier if you know you’ve picked a highly rated facility with a proven record of excellent service. While abuse can occur at any facility, it’s more likely to happen at locations with a history of issues and poor ratings. It’s up to you to sort through the successful and questionable nursing homes in your community to identify the safest one for your family member.

You can do this by doing thorough research into local nursing homes. Begin by asking friends, doctors, or social workers for recommendations for good facilities. Look up each facility online where you can compare Medicare ratings, reviews, and news reports for them all. Most nursing homes today have their own websites where you can learn more about them, but they will always market themselves in a good light so take their claims with a grain of salt.

From your research, identify your top choices and schedule tours so you can see what they’re like for yourself. Note the cleanliness of the facility, friendliness of staff, and the general atmosphere. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about staff qualifications, how much time is spent with each resident, and how they address complaints and reports of abuse.

After all your research, pick the facility that seems to offer the safest environment for your loved one, then plan to stay in touch with them. Residents who are isolated from friends and family are the most likely to experience abuse, so make arrangements to visit or talk with your family member often. They may need you to help them recognize or report abuse if it happens.

You can best do this by being aware of the signs of abuse in case anything ever seems off with your relative. 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• Unusual violent or withdrawn behavior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 become aware of any mistreatment of a nursing home resident, report it immediately. Document your experience to keep the details straight, and go directly to the facility administrators. They should be willing to listen to your concerns and take immediate action to investigate and prevent further incidents.

However, sometimes abuse occurs in a facility where management is ineffective, and those in charge may be unwilling or inept at productively addressing abuse. Unfortunately, this only further endangers vulnerable residents. If nursing home management fails to stop abusive behavior, it’s probably time to get the law involved.