Choosing a Nursing Home
The Orlando Sentinel recently published a list of the best ranked nursing homes in Central Florida. Interestingly, most nursing homes in the area received only average ratings on the list which ranked facilities across the country. Only five Central Florida nursing homes actually received the highest ranking of a “five”. And of almost 700 facilities here in the Sunshine State, only about fifty were determined to be high performing.
In a state that is known to attract an aging population from both near and far, the fact that more facilities aren’t ranked higher is jarring. According to the Department of Elder Affairs, Florida is home to more than 5.5 million elders and boasts the highest population percentage of those 65 and older in the nation. In addition to the many older people who enter nursing home facilities on their own, there are also many others who make the same difficult decision for loved ones every year.
Tips For Choosing the Right Nursing Home
The process of choosing a nursing home for yourself or your loved one can be both intimidating and overwhelming. But fortunately, researching facilities ahead of time is one of the best ways to ensure you are choosing one that provides the proper care. This can also help you ensure that greatly reduce the risk of yourself or your loved ones becoming a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect. Prior to committing to a facility undertake actions such as:
- Doing preliminary research – ask people you trust who have personal experience such as family, friends and treating physicians for advice and recommendations. Review nursing home websites to find out about the different services offered at each nursing home. Contact the facilities you’re interested in to ask questions and inquire about availability.
- Visiting unannounced – instead of scheduling an appointment to visit a potential nursing home, simply show up unannounced and ask to speak with the administrator. This will give you the best impression of how the facility is run on a day-to-day basis versus if they have time to prepare for your visit. While you are receiving a tour, ask the administrator questions about the ratio of caregivers to residents. Pay attention to foul odors and the level of cleanliness throughout the facility.
- Reading the paperwork – prior to committing to anything, ask for a copy of the contracts associated with the nursing homes on your short list and give yourself an appropriate amount of time to read them. If you have questions while reading, call back and ask them instead of assuming questionable circumstances would work out. Pay extra attention to the information on the cost, what is and isn’t included and other key details.
Has the Nursing Home You Entrusted Failed to Provide Proper Care?
There is a lot to think about when choosing a nursing home, but one thing no one should have to contemplate is whether a facility you have trusted will actually give the care it has promised. If you or a loved one has suffered abuse and neglect at the hands of a nursing home, you may be entitled to compensation. It is imperative that you consult an experienced legal team as soon as possible. As the Orlando personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm, we can help you protect the rights of yourself or your loved one if he or she has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Jacksonville, Tampa, Bradenton, Fort Myers, West Palm Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Daytona Beach areas.
Resource:
orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-us-news-nursing-home-rankings-20191029-wikzqd7izjd2fhy2sq7t6xt4z4-story.html
https://www.pendaslaw.com/dealing-with-the-financial-implications-of-unexpected-accident-injuries/
