Deciding to move your loved one into a nursing home is a difficult decision. When loved ones cannot care for themselves anymore, the safest choice may be a nursing home or an assisted living facility. The key to ensuring that your loved ones remain safe in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is to make sure you have a proper strategy in place.
Moving Day Best Practices
Because moving day is so hectic with many residents moving in, there are many opportunities for vulnerable and elderly adults to be injured or harmed. The following tips can help reduce stress associated with a move and keep your loved one safe while they transition into their next home.
- Discuss your loved one’s concerns about moving by sharing exactly what they can expect and keeping them informed about the entire day’s schedule. It is important that your family member feel as if they have control of their decision as well.
- Decorate the new place with memories and memorabilia from home. The addition of flowers and plants and photos can transform sterile nursing home bedrooms and bring great comfort to your loved ones.
- Create a visiting schedule and encourage your loved one to contact you and to keep you abreast of their new friends and activities.
Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse occurs more frequently than it is reported. The more a relative feels connected to family, the greater the likelihood that they will share information when someone hurts them. Many studies reveal that elderly nursing home residents sometimes fail to report abuse because of fear. By proactively talking with your relatives and coming up with a communication strategy, nursing home abuse can sometimes be stopped in its tracks.
At Peterson & Associates, P.C., our lawyers have extensive experience advising families who need to get justice for an abused loved one.