Southern California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
Moving a family member into a nursing home in San Diego County can be an emotionally difficult process for your loved one, as well as for yourself. There are many news reports about horrific incidents of nursing home abuse or neglect that result in severe and deadly harm to nursing home residents, and it can be difficult to know if you have done enough research and made the right decision for the elderly person you love. An important way of being sure that your loved one’s nursing home has taken proper safety precautions is to make a checklist and to bring it with you to the facility. The following is helpful information to include on your checklist.
What You Should Put on Your Nursing Home Safety Checklist
Even the most expensive nursing homes can have problems with abuse, neglect, and negligence. Likewise, even facilities with no history of safety violations can have problems arise. What should you be looking for when you visit a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility? It can be helpful to make a detailed checklist that you can use during each and every visit. That checklist may include a wide range of signs or indicators of abuse, neglect, or negligence (or risk factors for abuse or negligence), including the following:
- Is the nursing home clean?
- Is your loved one’s room tidy, and does your loved one have clean clothing and signs of recent bathing?
- Does your loved one have any signs of physical injuries, such as bruises, scars, burns, or broken bones? (If so, you should find out immediately how those injuries occurred)
- Does your loved one have any signs of untreated infections, such as bed sores? (If so, the facility may be understaffed and your loved one may not be receiving the degree of care they require.)
- Does your loved one have any signs of psychological or emotional distress, such as increased or unexplained anxiety or depression?
- Are there any staff members that your loved one appears uncomfortable being around?
- Does your loved one have any signs of malnutrition or dehydration?
- Are there tripping hazards in any of the walkways?
- Is there proper lighting in all walking areas?
- Are there stairway rails in all stairways?
- Are there grip bars in hallways, in restrooms, and in bedrooms where appropriate?
As the National Institute on Aging emphasizes, if you have any concerns at all, it is better to raise those concerns and to have them addressed than to potentially allow risk factors to remain or harm to continue.
Contact a San Diego County Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Today for Assistance
Are you planning to help an elderly parent move into a nursing home? Or is your spouse soon going to be moving into a nursing home for long-term care? It is essential to have a checklist prepared so that you can be mindful of any risk factors or signs that may point to nursing home abuse or neglect. Family members are often the best people to recognize or identify concerning symptoms, so it is critical to be knowledgeable and to remain alert. If you have any concerns about nursing home abuse or neglect, you should seek advice from a San Diego County nursing home negligence attorney as soon as possible. Contact the Walton Law Firm to find out more about how our firm can help you and your loved one.
See Related Blog Posts:
Skin Tear Wounds in San Diego County Nursing Homes
Assessing Fall Risks in Riverside County Nursing Homes
