When you or a loved one enters a nursing home or other long-term care facility, you probably aren’t thinking about the possibility that it may close. However, this is an unfortunate risk for some residents. This means finding somewhere else to go and negotiating with insurance companies all over again.
If your nursing home facility closes without enough time to find alternate housing for you or your loved one, you may feel helpless and stressed. However, by taking action after your facility closes, you can mitigate its effects on you moving forward as quickly as possible. This article will explain what to do if your facility closes and how you can avoid future problems with any other facilities in which your loved one plans on residing.
Make Sure Your Loved One Is Safe and Secure
For many, the biggest concern after a nursing home closes is the well-being of the residents who live there. If this is your concern, you can try to make sure everything is as safe and secure as possible for your loved one. As soon as you know there is a possibility of closure, try to get your loved one moved to a different facility.
If that isn’t possible, ask the facility about its plans for the residents that live there. Will another company take over the existing facility and run it? Will the residents all be moved to certain senior care centers nearby? Not knowing where you’ll live can be extremely stressful for anyone, so it’s critical to make the move quickly.
Negotiate With Your Insurance Company
If you were in the process of receiving long-term care coverage through your insurance company when your facility closed, you may need to negotiate coverage for the new facility. You can also try to negotiate on behalf of your loved one if they are still receiving care but aren’t able to do so themselves.
Find a New Nursing Home Facility
If you have enough time before your current facility closes to find a new one, try to do so as quickly as possible. You may want to contact your insurance company to see if they have any suggestions for facilities in your area. You may also want to ask family members for their recommendations for nearby facilities.
You should also check the state inspection reports for each facility so that you know what you are getting into. Be sure to take the time to find a facility that is a good fit for your loved one, as this could make the difference between a successful switch or another problem.
Take Legal Action If Necessary
If you feel you were seriously harmed or wronged by the closing of your nursing home facility, you may want to consider taking legal action. You may be entitled to compensation if another facility closes without enough notice or if a loved one was injured due to negligence or misconduct at their current facility.
If you decide to take legal action against your current facility or its insurance company, it is important to act quickly. You may also want to contact a lawyer before the facility closes to make sure that you are following the correct procedure. This way, you can protect your rights and move on as quickly as possible even if your current facility closes prematurely.
Assisted Living and Nursing Homes Should Protect Your Loved Ones
The closing of a nursing home facility is stressful for both residents and their families. However, you can take steps to minimize the effects of its closure by making sure your loved one is safe, negotiating with your insurance company, finding a new nursing home facility, and taking legal action if necessary. You can contact Dalli & Marino, LLP to learn more about your legal options.
Elder abuse lawyers can work with you to discuss what happened and what steps to take next. For more information about elder abuse cases involving assisted living and/or nursing home care, contact us online or call (888) 465-8790. We also speak Spanish.
