No two NYC nursing homes are alike. Before you apply for a loved one to move into one of these residences, you need to know that the staff can provide their residents with top-of-the-line care. With that in mind, there are questions you need to ask staff members before you commit to a facility.
As you’re touring NYC’s nursing homes, make sure you bring up the points listed below.
What Doctor Serves This Facility?
Nursing home residents often require specialized medical care at all hours of the day. That’s why it’s in your best interest to know the name of the doctor a residence keeps on staff. If a nursing home’s staff can’t readily name their on-site practitioner, you may want to consider placing a loved one in a different nursing home.
Similarly, knowing the name of a nursing home’s on-site doctor lets you research that doctor’s reputation ahead of time. If a nursing home affiliates with a medical professional with an untrustworthy reputation, you can help your loved one avoid the medical malpractice that might otherwise compromise their health further.
What Is the Staff Turnover Rate?
Staff members will always come and go from nursing home positions. There’s a difference between natural career progression and staff dissatisfaction, though. A nursing home with significant staff turnover may be a home that mistreats its staff as well as its residents.
Ideally, you want your loved one to live in a facility where they can build relationships with the staff. Long-term staff retention also ensures that your loved one receives consistent, compassionate care.
If the staff at an NYC nursing home won’t disclose their turnover rate, don’t worry. You have other research options available to you. Use platforms like Glassdoor to see what old employees are saying about these facilities. This way, you can avoid placing your loved one in a nursing home that considers its employees disposable.
What Social Services Are Available in the Nursing Home?
Nursing homes are more than residences for your elderly loved ones. They’re also hubs of social interaction. Your loved ones deserve plenty of opportunities to meet, greet, and play with the people they live alongside. With that in mind, explore what social services a nursing home offers to its residents.
While certain activities, like bingo or light exercise, may be available at most facilities, there are some nursing homes that offer more in-depth services to their residents. These institutions tend to treat their residents like individuals, ensuring their mental health as well as their physical well-being.
Before you commit a loved one to a particular nursing home, consider bringing home a brochure or testimony regarding that institution’s social services. If your loved one is in a position to express their interests, consider comparing and contrasting information about several institutions’ services before filling out your applicable applications.
Is the Staff and/or Facility Accredited?
Nursing homes are not required to seek accreditation before accepting residents. Those nursing homes that do receive accreditation do advertise their compliance with The Joint Commission, though. This commission advocates for the fair treatment of elderly individuals at the hands of nursing homes throughout the nation.
Our Team Can Help You Hold Nursing Homes to a Higher Standard
Moving a loved one into a nursing home is rarely an easy task. Before you commit to a particular home, you need to be certain that the staff will take as good of care of your loved one as possible. If you think a team may be mistreating your loved one, you can work with our attorneys to take legal action.
Dalli & Marino, LLP, offers legal services in English and Spanish to families addressing nursing home abuse. Let’s schedule your nursing home abuse case consultation today. For more information about our legal services, you can reach out to our office at (888) 465-8790 or fill out our contact form.
