Making the decision to move an elderly loved one from the familiar surroundings of their home to somewhere that they can hopefully get the help that they need is never an easy one. When you do finally make the decision you want to ensure that the facility that you are moving your loved one into is the best place for them to live. Here are some tips on how to choose the right nursing home in Tampa.
Look for a Good Location
Odds are your loved one is not going to be able to get around without your help. This means you are going to want to choose a location that is easy for you to get to when you need to see them, take them somewhere, or stop in for a visit.
Remember that if there is more than one family member who is going to be visiting you should choose somewhere centrally located to everyone. This makes it easy for the whole family to stop by for a quick visit or be available in the case of an emergency.
Start Your Search Online
There is an easily accessible and immensely knowledgeable place to begin your search: the internet. The best part about looking online is websites like this one. This website run by U.S News & World Report has listings of all of the nursing homes that are close to you and a star rating for them all. If you click on a certain home you will get the reasoning behind the ratings as well as any reports of failed inspections or other issues the home might have.
You can use a resource like this to generate your initial list of places to visit.
Check Each of the Homes on Your List Out
Now that you have a starting list it is time to go and give them a look. If possible, take your elderly loved one along with you. They are going to be living there so having their opinion can be helpful.
During your visit look for the following things:
Staff to Resident Ratio – Take a look at how many staff are working compared to the number of residents that are living in the nursing home. The more staff there are usually indicates a better level of care for your loved ones. Be on the lookout for places that have limited staff. This can spell disaster.
Code Violations – When meeting with the home’s administrative staff ask them if they have recently had any code violations. If they have, ask for an explanation and how they plan to remedy the situation.
Safety Hazards – While this can be a tough one to figure out on your own there are some indications about safety issues. Look for frayed or old carpeting. Make sure that there are plenty of ramps and railings available.
Tampa Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
Unfortunately nursing home negligence occurs. If you suspect your elderly loved one may be a victim, contact Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers today.
