Approximately 47 million seniors live in the United States, a population that is predicted to double within the next 40 years. As this number rises, more and more adults will begin to enter elder care facilities, such as senior living communities and nursing homes.
Unfortunately, many elder abuse lawsuits have shut down nursing homes in recent years. If your parents or an elderly loved one will be moving into a living center, it’s important that you help the adult choose a safe care facility.
Do your research
- Read online reviews
- Investigate multiple options to compare with
- Check up on the home unexpectedly during busy times to get an idea of how well the staff manages multiple residents under normal circumstances
- Ask to see medical records
- Speak with the administrator about your concerns
- Talk to residents — ask them about the quality of their assisted daily living services, such as bathing, dressing, meal quality and medication management.
Look for social opportunities
Don’t settle for a facility that only has card games on Thursday nights. Looking for living centers that facilitate social groups and outings may lead to a safer environment for your parent. Whether they’re going on bird watching trips to nature conservatories, taking art classes, gambling in casinos or learning computer skills, the more relationships residents develop with one another, the stronger the likelihood becomes that instances of poor treatment or care are communicated.
Make sure you can stay in contact
Amazon’s latest television ad promotes the Echo Spot by showing how the video communication device can help families be together after an emotional departure. Ensure that the facility your parent will be living in has internet and telephone access that can be used without the assistance of a care provider.
Additionally, always make sure you can have private conversations with your parent, without a staff member hovering around.
Elder abuse includes any instances of negligence, financial exploitation, emotional abuse, physical abuse or sexual abuse.
If you know of an incident involving an attempt or act of abuse toward an elderly loved one, contact an attorney as soon as possible. There are many laws in place to protect and compensate seniors who have been subject to attempts or instances of elder abuse.
