Choosing a nursing home for a parent or loved one is stressful and often overwhelming. With
over 15,600 facilities across the country according to the CDC, how do you choose the right one?
Experts say one of the easiest yet most important ways is to just use your eyes and ears.
“It’s essential to tour several facilities when you’re searching for the right nursing home for your
loved one,” says John Dalli, a partner in the law firm Dalli & Marino. “By looking out for key
elements, you’ll know right away if a facility is dedicated to its residents or if they’re choosing
profits over people — making them susceptible to neglect and abuse.”
The United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services offers an extensive, helpful
checklist on questions to ask when you’re searching for a nursing home for a parent. In this
third article, we will cover what you should look for in a skilled nursing facility’s appearance and
spaces.
Nursing Home Appearances
- Are residents clean, well groomed, and appropriately dressed for the season or time of day?
- Is the nursing home free from overwhelming unpleasant odors?
- Does the nursing home appear clean and well kept?
- Is the temperature in the facility comfortable for residents?
- Does the nursing home have good lighting?
- How are noise levels in the dining room and other common areas?
Nursing Home Living Spaces Should Promote Resident Safety
“Falls are the leading cause of injury and death for the elderly,” says Dalli. “Get a good look at all
of the living spaces at a nursing home to ensure they are well structured and safely maintained.”
- Is the furniture sturdy, yet comfortable and attractive?
- Are exits clearly marked?
- Are there quiet areas where residents can visit with friends and family?
- Does the nursing home have smoke detectors and sprinklers?
- Are all common areas, resident rooms, and doorways designed for wheelchairs?
- Are handrails and grab bars appropriately placed in the hallways and bathrooms?
Residents’ rooms
- Can residents have personal belongings and furniture in their rooms?
- Does each resident have storage space (closet and drawers) in his or her room?
- Do residents have windows in their bedrooms?
- Do residents have access to internet, a computer, a personal phone, and television?
- Can residents choose their roommates?
- Are there policies and procedures to protect residents’ possessions, including lockable cabinets and closets?
Our next article in this series will reflect on the importance of resident food menus and
recreational activities.
Contact Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Dalli & Marino
Since 1996, Dalli & Marino, LLP, has helped families recover millions of dollars in cases of neglect at nursing homes or other elder care facilities. Our team serves Suffolk and Nassau Counties (Long Island), Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and Westchester County.
Please call our office today if you have questions about a loved one in a nursing home that may have experienced one of these issues at 1-888-465-8790 [Toll-Free] or complete the CASE EVALUATION FORM on our Contact Page.
