Nursing homes are a growing business in the United States, providing a necessary service for the older generations as fewer and fewer adults can provide the proper care for their elderly loved ones. However, some of these facilities can struggle to meet the necessary level of care as well, which is why it’s so important that you do your research to find the right nursing home for your loved one. Here are some things that you should be aware of in your search.
Bed Sores
Bed sores are one of the biggest issues plaguing nursing homes. These skin lesions form as a result of excessive pressure, like when seniors sit or lie in one position for too long. They are often a sign of neglect, showing that nursing home staff are not taking the proper measures to prevent them by moving and exercising residents. Unfortunately, there have been many legal cases surrounding bed sores in nursing homes in the United States.
In these cases, the bed sores are commonly untreated. If these lesions are not kept properly cleaned and dried, then they have the potential to become infected and turn septic, posing the risk of killing the afflicted person. This is why, when researching nursing homes, it’s important to look into their history with bed sores. Additionally, when visiting the facilities, you should pay close attention to how active the residents are and ask the staff what they do to keep them moving.
Slips and Falls
Slip and fall cases are another common issue within the walls of many modern nursing homes. A lot of elderly people struggle to move around on their own, requiring assistance from walkers and wheelchairs. Sometimes, like when transitioning from their wheelchair to their bed, residents will require the assistance of nursing home staff to ensure that they don’t fall.
A fall for a senior citizen is a very serious incident since they are at a much higher risk for fracture. This is why, when visiting potential nursing homes, it’s very important to pay attention to how readily available the staff is to help the residents get around. Additionally, look for other fall-prevention features like handrails in bathrooms and hallways. These little things could help to save the life of your loved one.
Choking
Another risk that residents face in nursing homes is choking. Like with mobility, eating can become difficult for many people as they age, putting them at a higher risk for choking during meals because of an inability to properly chew their food. Because of this, it’s very important that residents are supervised by staff members during meal times, and that these staff members are ready to jump in and help at any moment.
While visiting facilities, take note of how present the staff members are while the residents are eating. Are they just in the area, or are they paying attention to them? Additionally, you should take note of the meals that are being served. The type of food served could significantly affect the likelihood that residents will choke. An oversight like this could be fatal for your loved one.
Abuse
Nursing homes are supposed to be a safe, nurturing environment for the older generations, but the truth is that this is not always the case. Nursing home abuse is so common that more than 90% of nursing home residents report having witnessed or experienced abuse first-hand in some way. During your research, carefully comb through the reviews of different facilities, paying attention to any that mention the way that the staff members treat the residents. When you tour facilities, try to gauge this for yourself by taking note of the way that residents react to the staff members.
If residents seem scared or are particularly quiet around certain caregivers, this might be a sign of abuse. Other signs could include bruises or ripped clothing. Additionally, even after you’ve found a nursing home for your loved one, be sure to check in with them about the treatment they’re receiving. Even if they assure you that everything is fine, you should still keep track of any negative changes in their personality—if they’re normally very lively, but become more withdrawn after moving into a nursing home, this could be a red flag. This diligence could prevent your loved one from being mistreated.
Depression
Depression is an incredibly common issue among elders. As they near the end of their lives, they find that they have less to look forward to and can struggle to cope with that fact. To prevent this, it’s important to look for a facility that provides lots of activities and mental stimulation to keep residents happy. This could include group outings or events hosted on the premises.
