10 Questions You Should ask About Your Loved Ones Nursing Home

As our loved ones age, we are often faced with the challenge of finding the best option for their long-term care in Seguin. For many families, this includes the consideration of a nursing home. Sadly, the attorneys at Carabin Shaw have worked with far too many victims of Seguin nursing home negligence.

Finding the right nursing home in Seguin is no easy task. You want the peace of mind that they will receive a level of care that is on par with how you would treat them, and you need as much information as you can gather to make the most informed choice. The problem is knowing what to look for, which can leave you uncertain about why one nursing home might be the better option over another.

To help you make that decision, our attorneys often refer clients to the Institute on Aging’s list of ten questions you should ask about your loved one’s nursing home to ask.

1. Is the facility Medicare and Medicaid certified?
   For many families, the decision of where to place their aging family hinges on assistance programs. There are limits regarding what Medicare and Medicaid will pay, but being certain that the facility is certified both at the state and federal level is a good indicator of its credibility.
2. Are they equipped to handle Alzheimer’s and dementia patients?
   One of every ten people age 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s and dementia. If your loved one needs special care, be sure the nursing home you choose is equipped to handle residents with this condition.
3. Are residents able to see their personal physicians?
   Many nursing homes will have an attending physician for their residents, but every nursing home resident should have the right to continue seeing the provider of their choice. Make sure your loved one can maintain their relationship with their current doctor.
4. Is the nursing home equipped for telemedicine?
   As technology continues to give us greater access to information, you want to be sure the nursing home you choose is keeping up with the latest and most effective medical resources.
5. Do all staff members receive a background check?
   One of the first lines of defense against elder abuse is knowing the people caring for your loved ones are thoroughly vetted. Background checks are not a silver bullet, but they are a crucial step in ensuring the safety of your loved ones.
6. Are there any incidents of abuse?
   One out of every three nursing homes has been reported for some type of abuse, and Texas is among the worst in nursing home negligence statistics . While it is not an easy subject to address, those facilities with a clean record won’t mind being asked.
7. What is the staff to resident ratio?
   You want to be sure the facility is adequately staffed for the number of residents. Advocacy groups conclude that minimally acceptable staff-to-resident ratios are 1:5 during the day and 1:15 at night.
8. Is care available around the clock?
   Given the ongoing nature of senior health issues, the nursing home must be ready to handle emergencies at any time of day.
9. Does each room have a window?
   As residents age, getting outside becomes increasingly difficult. The ability to connect with natural light can have positive effects on health and emotional state.
10. Are you able to interview current residents without staff present?
    There’s immense value in getting the unfiltered perspective of current residents. While you may be hard-pressed to find someone who is completely satisfied, you will be able to get a fuller understanding than you would from speaking only with facility staff.

These ten questions you should ask about your loved ones’ nursing home is not an exhaustive list, and there are other issues to consider as well. It is a good idea to inquire about the food, inspect the cleanliness of the facility, and investigate quality of residents’ lives.

You want to make the most informed and best decision you can. The best way to do that is to thoroughly research the nursing home in Seguin before making any decisions. However, there are still times when things don’t go as planned and find yourself in need of a nursing home negligence lawyer.

If you are concerned your family member may be the victim of nursing home neglect in Seguin, contact the lawyers of Carabin Shaw and speak with a Seguin nursing home abuse lawyer immediately. We’ll meet with you for a free initial consultation to review your situation. Our attorneys are committed to serving you like family, and we will leverage all our skill and experience to protect the rights of the elderly.

To schedule an appointment with a Carabin Shaw attorney nearest you, call us today at 800-862-1260.