You may be concerned about the safety of your elderly relative who lives independently at home and want to move him or her into a nursing home. After all, nursing homes are supposed to provide a safer alternative. Before you simply choose a nursing home for your loved one, it is important to think about all of the different safety features that should be available, based on your loved one’s personal needs. When you visit potential assisted living facilities, here are a few important safety features that you should look for and ask about.
The maintenance and upkeep of the building. Narrow hallways, scattered items and debris, and blocked exits all present potential hazards.
The evacuation plan for the building. You should ensure that the staff and residents are aware of the evacuation plan and that regular practice runs occur to keep everyone alert and informed.
Determine whether there is adequate staffing. If there are not enough staff members to care for the residents during the day or night, your loved one may not receive the care they need, especially in an emergency situation.
Determine whether the staff is adequately trained and certified. Every nursing home should have a registered nurse on staff, as well as assistants and medical caregivers. If there are no certified caregivers on staff, keep looking.
Ensure that the other residents look happy, healthy, and well-kept. If many of the residents look disheveled and unkempt, this could be a sign of maltreatment in the facility.
What to Do if Your Loved One is Injured in a Nursing Home Accident
Even if you’ve taken great care to choose the right nursing home, your loved one may still be injured in a nursing home accident, and in cases of negligence, a skilled personal injury attorney may be able to assist you. Attorneys Alexis and Mark Breyer help injury victims hold the at-fault party legally and financially responsible. We can help you recover not only the costs of medical care and personal damages, but also the family’s wages that were lost while caring for the injured elderly family member and other accident-related costs. For help with your loved one’s personal injury case, contact the Husband and Wife Law Team.