How Can Family Members Help with Care in a Nursing Home?
When loved ones are unable to care for an older family member, particularly when they need round-the-clock care, they often admit the elder into a nursing home. While these facilities can provide medical care and other types of support elderly individuals need, there are still ways family members can help. Below, our Tampa nursing home abuse lawyers outline five ways family members can help with care.
Visit Often
Visiting your loved one regularly, observing their behavior, and making sure they are safe is the best way to ensure they are receiving proper care. During these visits, ask your loved one about the type of choices they get to make, such as if there is any variety in the food offered or if they can go to bed whenever they choose. Also speak to the staff members and ask about your loved one’s care, how their treatment is going, and if there is anything you can do to help.
Make Observations About the Facility
While visiting your loved one, also make note of important details. Do staff members seem distracted or do they focus on the residents? Do staff members know your loved one’s name? Is the facility clean and sanitary? Is it welcoming? Does the staff seem properly trained? Are there enough staff members? If you see any warning signs, it is important to take them seriously and speak to a staff member or administrator about it.
Look for Signs of Neglect or Abuse
Being able to identify the most common signs of abuse and neglect is one of the best ways to ensure your loved one is receiving proper care. These are as follows:
- Cuts
- Bruises
- Broken bones
- Bed sores
- Unexplained weight loss
- Behavioral changes
- Unexplained STDs
- Bloody, stained, or torn underwear
- Abandonment
- Changes in the resident’s financial situation or estate documents
If you notice any of the above signs, or any other, it is important to document it with detailed notes and photos.
Form a Family Committee
You and your other loved ones cannot visit all the time or always see what is happening at a facility. To make sure that no warning signs are overlooked, you can form a family committee. This is a group that includes the family members of the different residents in the facility. When one visits, they can make observations about the facility, check in on other residents, and ensure that abuse and neglect does not go ignored. This can help all families and ensure all residents are protected.
Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Tampa
If you suspect abuse or neglect is occurring in a long-term care facility, it is critical that you seek legal help from a Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer. At Kohn Law, our experienced attorneys can investigate potential abuse or neglect and help you make things right so your loved one receives the proper care they are entitled to. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or chat with us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html
