Florida Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
Whether the decision has already been made to place a loved one under nursing home care, or you are still weighing your options, carefully reviewing your options can help ensure a loved one does not fall prey to a poorly run facility.
You will likely have a number of questions about levels of care and assistance, cost, resources, and quality of life for nursing home patients, as well as safety and emergency assistance. Starting your search early can make the transition easier for you and your loved one and also ensure that you find the best fit.
With more elderly persons living into old age, many families are faced with the difficult decision of whether to place their ailing loved one in nursing home care. It is important that families feel confident and comfortable as they move forward with this phase in life. Our West Palm Beach nursing home negligence attorneys are dedicated to raising awareness about nursing home related injury. We are also committed to helping Florida residents find the resources they need to make the best decisions when choosing nursing home care.
Common considerations include the following:
When is a good time to start searching for a nursing home? Once you and your family have realized that you are not able to provide the amount of medical care and assistance necessary, it is time to consider assisted living or nursing home care. You can also consult with a medical professional to help determine what level of assistance you should seek for your loved one. The News and World Report released the Best Nursing Homes 2014 guide, which highlights the top nursing homes in every state and in about 100 major cities.
Does my loved one need assisted living or a nursing home facility? You may be wondering whether your loved one needs assisted living facilities or a nursing home. This depends on the physical and mental condition of the resident and the degree of assistance needed. Some assisted-living facilities will help with dressing, bathing, meals, housekeeping and laundry. Others want residents who are more independent. In most cases, if a loved one needs more hands-on assistance, medical treatments or rehabilitation, patients will likely need nursing home.
What are the costs of a nursing home?Costs can range depending on the level of care, the location of the nursing home, available amenities and other factors. Remember that if you plan on using Medicare for subsidizing costs, your loved one must qualify for a nursing home, not assisted living.
Older Americans are living longer and families are commonly faced with the difficult reality of placing their loved ones in a nursing home. Unfortunately, many of these facilities do not meet standards of care and could place your loved one at risk. Inadequate staffing, failure to perform background checks, failed security systems, and other instances of negligence can result in injury and wrongful death.
How can I report misconduct, negligence or abuse? If you suspect that a loved one has suffered an injury because of nursing home negligence and abuse, you should contact an experienced legal advocate as soon as possible. You should also contact the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs to report any suspected abuse or negligence.
Freeman Injury Law — Call 1-800-561-7777 for a free consultation to discuss your rights.
More Blog Entries:
Florida Nursing Home Arbitration Agreements: Neither Wise Nor Necessary, Part 2, Jan. 31, 2014, Indian River County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
Violation of Nursing Home Patient Privacy And Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Jan. 15, 2014, Sunrise Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog