What Do Sights, Smells And Sounds Have To Do With Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing home abuse in Florida is a reality. Although it is something no one likes to talk about, it is a sad fact nonetheless. In order to help your elderly loved one avoid becoming a victim of nursing home abuse, you should learn all you can about choosing the right nursing home for your relative to reside in.

Start by conducting research online and reading reviews of the facilities you are considering. Additionally, there are federal ratings that are important to look up. While online research is critical to finding the right nursing home for your loved one, it is invaluable to also visit the nursing homes you are considering moving your relative into.

When visiting these nursing homes, focus on the following three things:

1.  Sights. Keep your eyes peeled to observe the facility. Look at the grounds, the rooms, the hallways, and the common areas. Sometimes the cleanliness of a facility or the condition of the furniture can give you an insight into how the owner prioritizes the upkeep of the facility. When someone doesn’t invest in the facility, he or she might not invest in his or her staff and residents. What you see when visiting the nursing home can be an indicator of how your loved one will be treated.
2. Sounds. While walking the halls and looking at the nursing home, keep your ears open. Listen for sounds such as bells that aren’t being answered. Many nursing homes are understaffed and don’t have the employees to answer patients’ call bells when they should. Ask the administrator about the sounds you hear and what their policy is in regard to responding to residents.
3. Smells. Use your nose to sniff around the facility. You can tell a lot by how residents smell. Do they have poor hygiene? If so, it may be an indicator that the nursing home staff isn’t take care of their patients like they should.

Only some nursing homes treat their residents with dignity and care and are good places you would want your relative residing in. This is why it is important to visit the nursing homes you are considering and observing the aforementioned things before placing your loved one in their care.

If your loved one already resides in a nursing home, you can still use sights, sounds and smells to determine if the facility he or she is living in is the right one. If you feel like your elderly relative is being abused or neglected, contact a nursing home abuse attorney in Fort Lauderdale. You can contact the Law Office of David Benenfeld today for a free consultation at 954-677-0155.