Living in Fear: Nursing Home Abuse Affects the Entire Family

The decision to move a parent or grandparent into an elderly care facility is a difficult one to make. Nursing home abuse cases come to light far too frequently for the comfort of many people. Any time you feel that your loved one is being neglected or abused, discuss the issues with the nursing home staff and management. Discuss your initial concerns with a nursing home abuse lawyer in Philadelphia if you feel management is ignoring your claims or making excuses.

The nursing home staff and management are there to ensure the residents are properly taken care of, not to exploit them in some way. An experienced attorney will be able to tell you if you have a case during your first visit. Your initial consultation is free, so don’t be afraid to simply discuss your options in case something does happen in the future.

Simply put, many elderly have difficulties caring for themselves past a certain age. Most nursing home residents are 65 or older and unable to meet their basic needs at home on their own. They’re still capable of caring for themselves with assistance, but their family is simply too busy or unable to help with those basic needs.

Choosing a Nursing Home

Several basic recommendations must be followed for choosing a nursing home. You must know how much you can afford in order to meet the needs of the person entering. Make a list of several homes before settling on a certain one.

Determine Affordability: Affordability is often the hardest part to determine. Those who receive retirement funds or social security benefits may be able to afford more than one who must pay the entire amount out of pocket. Maintaining a certain quality of life is important to our elderly loved ones.

Determine Needs: Basic needs are simple; food, water, and basic care are extremely important. Other needs such as social interaction and ability to move about freely are also very important for people looking at moving from their independent home to a care facility.

Select the Area: Ideally, a facility close to home is preferred. Family and friends may visit more frequently if they don’t have to drive such a long distance. Make a list of facilities in the area your loved one prefers, and start your search there.

Narrow Choices: Once you have your list, narrow the choices based on needs, then preferences. Unfortunately, no facility is perfect, because it isn’t home. It must meet the needs and preferences of the future resident in order to eventually become their new home.

Visit and Ask Questions: Don’t skip this step! Ask questions, questions and more questions. Really delve into the qualifications of staff members and ask if the home has ever been cited for misconduct. Discuss details of resident care at great lengths and really pay attention to the quality of care your loved one will receive while there.

Preparing Your Loved One for the Nursing Home

Long-term care facilities have developed quite bad reputations over the years. Discuss personal details with the future resident and make them feel comfortable talking with you about their experiences. Make sure they understand completely that they can come to you with any complaint they may have, no matter how big, small or personal in nature. Nursing home abuse is a serious problem and your loved one must understand that it is not the way things are done and it is not okay. Some elderly people believe if they complain that they’re being a burden. Ensure that does not happen with your elderly loved one by explaining that their well being is your primary concern.

Some elderly also feel that if they are being “put in a nursing home” they have already become a burden to you and your family. Discuss the reasons for their move to a care facility so they understand that they are loved and will continue to be part of your life.