Nursing Home Facilities

Nursing home facilities offer medical care and assistance to individuals who do not need to be in a hospital but who cannot receive the care they need at home. While nursing homes are often associated with long-term stays, they also function as rehabilitative care for individuals who have had surgery or are suffering from a serious illness.

Nursing home residents can vary in age, but the majority are older adults. Twenty-four percent of Florida residents are currently over 60. This number is expected to increase sharply over the next decade. With its high rate of seniors, it probably comes as no surprise that Florida has almost 700 nursing home facilities to provide care and medical services. But with such an overwhelming amount of choice, how can a family find a nursing home that best suits their needs?

What Should Nursing Home Facilities Have?

In order to provide necessary care, a nursing home should offer:

• Around the clock care
• Skilled nursing staff
• Qualified doctors
• High quality of care
• Healthy meals
• Physical therapy
• Social activities
  Transportation to the hospital for any necessary appointments
• Clean environment

A nursing home facility should be able to provide for a resident’s medical needs as well as their personal needs. Many patients who are in a nursing home facility will require assistance with personal care tasks like bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom. In addition to accredited doctors and nurses, trained caregivers may round out a staff to assist with the tasks of daily living.

Some nursing homes provide a hospital-like atmosphere while others offer more private facilities. While the goal of both types is the same, the way they deliver their services may differ.

Choosing between a hospital-like or a residential-like nursing home facility is generally more a matter of taste and need. Those who will be in a nursing home for long-term care may prefer the amenities and privacy of a residential-like nursing home facility that may offer single rooms and more social activities. This is something to consider while selecting a nursing home facility that best meets your needs.

Selecting the Best Nursing Home Facility

If you are looking for a nursing home for yourself or for a loved one, there are a few factors you should consider to ensure you make a decision you will be happy with. Finding a nursing home facility that works for you and your family may take time, but doing research will help ensure you find the best nursing home facility for your needs.

Before beginning your search, think about the types of things that are important to you or your loved one. For example, if you’re looking for rehabilitative care, you may want to seek a nursing home facility that has a large physical therapy program. Those who are religious may want to seek nursing home facilities with a religious connection. Others may prefer a facility where they can help create their daily schedule.

As you begin your search, ask for recommendations from friends, families, and doctors. These recommendations can provide you with a list of suitable facilities to further investigate. If you find that they are not close enough to your location, seek more information online.

Call the nursing home facilities on your list and ask them preliminary questions. For example, you may want to ask about the size of the facility, the size of the staff, the length of the average stay, and the cost of services. Eliminate options that don’t meet your needs.

Once you’ve further narrowed your list, it’s time to visit the nursing home facilities you are interested in. As you tour the facilities, make note of how residents look and how they are treated. Does the staff seem courteous? Is the facility clean? Do the facilities meet your needs? Are they appropriately certified? Are there social activities? Do residents get to decide their own schedules or have a say in creating their daily schedules?

As you visit the facility, ask questions. How is the staff trained? How long is physical therapy? What are visiting hours? Don’t be afraid to inquire about the things you see. If you note something is dirty, ask why.

After a scheduled visit, it is wise to visit again unannounced. While staff may have prepped for a scheduled visit, visiting unannounced allows you see how things are normally and can give you a better basis for comparison.

Once you’ve gathered all the information you need and visited the nursing home facilities you are interested in, it’s time to make a decision. Before signing a contract, however, be sure to read it and ask questions about parts you don’t understand. It may be useful to have someone else look over the contract as well.

When Nursing Home Facilities Don’t Meet their Promises

Not every nursing home facility meets the promises outlined in their glossy brochures. In fact, some are downright negligent. If you believe your loved one has been abused or neglected at a nursing home facility, having management remove your loved one from the situation and start an investigation can be the first step in recovery.

Once your loved one is moved, however, you may find they need additional medical or psychological care to better recuperate from their ordeal. In addition, some nursing home facilities may hinder your ability to remove your loved one from their care, force an arbitration, or refuse to return previously paid fees. A nursing home abuse lawyer can help you and your family as you seek to provide the best care for your loved one.

A Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer can help investigate your claims and aid you in fighting for compensation to cover medical care for your loved one. Nursing home abuse can cause serious medical problems and traumatize victims. Abuse at the hands of those who are supposed to provide care can leave families and victims unsure of where to turn. A skilled Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer with experience in elder care law can help provide answers as well as legal options so you can focus recovery and healing.

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