Finding a safe nursing home for a loved one can be difficult, but there are a few things that are a tip off to the bad ones.
When going to look at a prospective nursing home, first use your nose. A safe nursing home doesn’t allow patients to remain in their own waste, but cleans patients quickly and puts them in clean clothing and bedding. Second, use your eyes and ears. Do patients seem in distress, crying or calling out for attention? Are communal areas in use or do patients seem isolated in their rooms? Do visible meal trays appear to be uneaten well after normal feeding times, or left for hours to clear away? In a non memory care facility, do patients appear mostly alert and capable of social interaction (if not they be being unnecessarily medicated), lastly does the facility encourage visiting with reasonable hours, or do they restrict to just a very few hours daily? Does the nursing home allow you to speak with current residents?
The above won’t guarantee a great nursing home, but will avoid the worst ones. Great nursing homes encourage friends, family and outsiders to visit and engage with patients, whether just reading, engaging in activities, helping with feeding, etc.
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