Reminder: Check On Family Members Living in Nursing Homes

After we shared a national review from AARP that ranked Kentucky at the bottom for providing services and support for seniors and people with disabilities, we thought it to be a good time to remind you to check-in on your loved ones who are living in long-term care facilities or nursing homes. By doing this you can ensure your family member is receiving the care they deserve and the support you were told they would receive.

Knowing What To Ask

Make your next visit, unplanned or unscheduled. And make it a point to be stopping by on various days and at various times. When you visit with your loved one, start finding out more information about their experience by asking questions like:

• How are you feeling? Are you comfortable?
• What types of activities are you enjoying?
• Have they changed any of your medicines or have you had to see the doctor for anything?
• Is anything worrying you?
• Do you feel safe? Do you feel respected?
• If you need help and you push the call button, how long before somebody comes?
• Are there any new staff here you enjoy being with? Any that make you feel uncomfortable?
• Have you gotten to know any of the other residents?
• Do you like the staff—and any staff member in particular?
• Do you want to tell me anything?

In addition, while you are visiting, look out for any safety hazards like a TV that isn’t strapped down or cluttered hallways. Visit and watch staff to see if they are being helpful, patient and honest. Ask for a tour of any new areas and while walking around, smell for suspicious odors and listen for odd noises. Ask questions if something seems out of sorts. Take a good long listen to communal areas and pay attention to music, laughter, and how other residents are engaging. Also, no matter how good you feel about the facility, ask the staff what they are doing to improve the quality of care for residents.

Based on your visit, you will want to work to resolve problems and bring about improvements in care and demand any changes needed on behalf of your loved one. If needed, report issues immediately to Kentucky’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman program advocate or if necessary and medically able, remove your family member.

In the AARP report referenced earlier, Kentucky’s worst ranking was based on quality of life and quality of care for the elderly and disabled. The category included measures of the rate of employment for working-age adults with certain disabilities; the percent of high-risk nursing home residents with pressure sores; and the percent of long-stay nursing home residents who are receiving an antipsychotic medication.

Owensboro and Madisonville Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers — No Recovery, No Fee

It may be hard to imagine you will need to contact us but with offices in Owensboro and Madisonville, Rhoads & Rhoads is here for you and your family by representing nursing home abuse and wrongful death victims throughout Western Kentucky. We offer free initial consultations, and all cases are taken on a contingency fee basis, which mean there is no payment required up front. We get paid only if we win or settle your case, so there is NO RISK involved. 

Call us at 888-709-9329 or contact us by e-mail to schedule an appointment with one of our Madisonville or Owensboro personal injury attorneys.