Red Flags to Watch Out for When Choosing an Orlando Nursing Home

Finding the perfect nursing home can be a very challenging task. You will likely spend considerable time and resources to find one that works best for your family’s needs. It’s an unfortunate fact that many nursing homes have less than stellar reputations. There may be a history of mistreatment and abuse of patients. That scenario is the worst nightmare for both the prospective patient and your family.

To help you narrow down the best nursing homes, we’ve put together a list of some of the biggest red flags to consider during your search.

How Do the Current Residents Look?

Conducting an in-person visit is crucial when deciding on a nursing home. When you take a tour, pay attention to the residents you see. How are they dressed? Are their clothes clean? Do they appear well-groomed? Is their attire appropriate for the weather that day? If you answer no to any of these questions, you could be looking at a home that is not properly taking care of its patients.

What is the Staff’s Demeanor Like?

Be sure to interact with the staff on your visit. Ask some basic questions to see how they interact with you. Are they rude? If they answer you politely and helpfully, that is a good sign. However, if they brush you off or seem hassled by you asking questions, take that as a warning sign.

Also, listen to how the staff interacts with residents and each other. Are they polite, or do they speak to residents in a demeaning tone? Do they raise their voices? Listen for them complaining to each other.

You can also ask about staff turnover rates. Nursing homes are prone to turnover, but if the staff is continually leaving, it could be a sign of more significant problems.

What are the Facilities Like?

Pay attention to the overall facilities. Are there options for socializing and activities your family member can partake in? Is there outdoor space and opportunities for related activities? If the facility organizes no activities and residents don’t have any opportunity to socialize with others, it’s a real possibility that they do not care about the well-being of their residents.

What Kind of Privacy Do Residents Have?

Check that there is somewhere private for their belongings. Is that area secure so residents can leave things there that are important to them and not worry about being taken?

How Clean is the Facility?

Look at the overall cleanliness of the facility. Are residents’ rooms dirty, with leftover food trays or overflowing trash cans? Are the common areas clean and tidy? What about the areas where residents go to socialize and conduct activities? If the facilities are dirty, it could be a sign that they are understaffed or not concerned with the well-being of the facility and those who live there.

Nursing Home Planning Assistance

Planning for a nursing home involves more than just deciding on the facility. Paying for nursing home care is extremely expensive. That is why you need to plan ahead and make sure your loved ones are eligible for Medicaid assistance. Please don’t wait until you need to move them to a home, as it will be too late in many cases. For assistance, contact the Orlando nursing home planning attorneys at the Law Offices of Shea A. Fugate, P.A. today to schedule an initial consultation.

https://sheafugate.com/tips-for-nursing-home-planning-in-orlando/