When you’re looking for a nursing home for your loved one, your top priority is to find one where they’ll be safe and well taken care of. Unfortunately, some nursing homes not only fail to provide adequate care to residents, but they put them in harm’s way due to abuse and neglect.
While looking for a nursing home, always be on the lookout for these warning signs before moving your loved one into a care facility:
- Staff turnover—Ask about average staff tenure. Do most caretakers stay at least a few years, or is there a constant revolving door of caretakers with short tenures? Significant and frequent turnover means unhappy staff and an inability for caretakers to get to know residents.
- Facility cleanliness—Is the nursing home clean and orderly, or is it dirty and unorganized? The cleanliness of a nursing home can tell you a lot about how the management treats residents. Also, dirty nursing homes can also put residents at risk of infection, as germs spread more easily.
- Residents’ moods—Do the residents seem happy and engaged, or are they depressed and withdrawn? It’s not uncommon for a few residents to be down, but most residents should be cheerful. If you notice that most residents seem to be in bad spirits, it could be a reflection of poor care.
Even if you find a great nursing home for your loved one, it’s important to never let your guard down. A new caretaker or management team can significantly impact resident care and wellbeing, so stay vigilant. And if you do suspect abuse or neglect, contact the Virginia nursing home abuse lawyers at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation.
