What to Look for in a Nursing Home – Advice from Giroux & Associates
Choosing a nursing home is a complicated affair. It can be difficult to know where to begin. One common source of information that your nursing home case attorney St. Petersburg might recommend is the Medicare Nursing Home Compare website at http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare which contains detailed information about nursing homes in your area.
Paying a Visit
Before making your final decision about which nursing home to send a family member to, your nursing home case attorney St. Petersburg will recommend that you visit your preferred choice in person, preferably more than once. It is always a good idea to interview the staff and see the facilities yourself instead of making a decision based solely on the website. You might also consider making an unscheduled visit, which any reputable nursing home will not have a problem with. While you should be on the lookout for any signs of abuse or neglect among the residents, keep in mind that some residents may be mentally ill or impaired and will behave in ways that may seem irrational or troubling to outside observers.
Asking Appropriate Questions
Here are some questions that a nursing home case attorney St. Petersburg might recommend you ask to nursing home staff during your visit:
• What is your training or qualification to hold your current position?
• What training or qualifications are your employees required to have?
• What languages do your staff speak?
• Is the facility licensed?
• Is the facility Medicare or Medicaid certified?
• What were the results of the most recent inspection?
• What security measures are in place around the facilities?
Getting Legal Assistance
To protect against the possibility of nursing home abuse, make sure you are informed about nursing home operations. Talk to a St. Petersburg nursing home lawyer at Giroux & Associates. Call 727-895-5399.