When choosing a retirement home for your senior family member or your loved one, you are trying to afford them everything you can. If money is not a problem, there are so many luxury nursing homes to consider, but one thing that life teaches us is that money can’t buy everything.
Yes, you can pay a fortune to get your loved one the most luxurious nursing home, but that doesn’t mean that it is going to be the best option for your elderly, nor that he/she wouldn’t have any problem there.
That is why it is so important to thoroughly check every aspect of the nursing home that you’re considering choosing, but also to watch for 5 crucial red flags when it comes to evaluating retirement homes. In that way, you will be confident in your decision, and you’ll provide the best possible option for your loved one.
1. Poor Staff-to-Resident Ratios
If you are not familiar with the term staff-to-resident ratio, here is a simple explanation: it reflects how many staff members are available for every patient in the nursing home.
This is extremely important because if the ratio is high, which means that, for example, one staff member is available for ten patients, that is a bad sign! Because one staff member cannot provide adequate and time-sensitive care for every patient in need, it can occur that a patient in need is neglected.
On the other hand, if the staff-to-resident ratio is low, for example, one staff member per three patients, that is much better.
2. Negative Health and Safety Records
Look for any health and safety violations because they are a clear indicator of poor management. Even some luxury nursing homes have low rates on this matter, so don’t get misguided by the luxury interior and amenities because there can be some serious problems.
Based on the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, the state of Massachusetts ranks as one of the lowest in the U.S. in terms of funding for nursing homes. The Medicaid reimbursement rate covers only approx. 85% of allowable costs. Such financial strains will (naturally) negatively affect the quality of care and service that nursing homes in that state. So, if you’re looking for the worst-rated nursing homes in Massachusetts, you’re (unfortunately) very likely to find them.
3. Frequent Staff Changes
This point can tell that something isn’t right in the facility that you are considering choosing. High turnover among staff suggests poor working conditions, low morale, or inadequate training.
You can never neglect this matter, because if the staff is not pleased and happy in that nursing home, how can you expect that your loved one will be?
Even if everything is right with management and staff, patients rely on staff members, so frequent changes are not something they would feel comfortable with.
4. Lack of Transparency
When looking for a luxury nursing center, look at their policies and pricing. If that is not transparent, that is a warning sign. You don’t want to end up in a situation where you are going to find out later about some hidden fees or be the victim of potential financial exploitation.
Transparency is very important in every segment, from healthcare to nutrition, as well. Make sure to check what the rules are when it comes to visitations. There are some facilities that are very restrictive and allow only one visit per week. You should look for a facility that encourages family support and presence.
Also, make sure that they are giving information about residents regularly, so you can get all the important information in a timely manner.
5. Negative Resident and Family Feedback
This is probably the biggest red flag of all. You must check and inform yourself on how the residents are feeling about staying in a nursing home you’re considering. Also, it’s very important to know what their family members think of the facility, as they may also provide helpful insight into the details that mightn’t be apparent at first glance.
If residents and their families are speaking about neglect, poor communication, or any other problem with nursing homes, this is a valuable insight.
Look for a facility that has the best reviews and testimonials, because that will give you reassurance that they are doing a good job at taking care of seniors.
Conclusion
Choosing the right nursing home for your loved one is one of the biggest decisions you will have to make, and it will affect the rest of his/her life. It will affect the quality of your senior’s life, but most of all, the overall well-being.
Proceed with caution, check for any irregularities, make sure there are no red flags, and after you check everything thoroughly, make the best decision you can.
Even in luxury nursing homes, neglect or violations can happen, so check their staff-to-patient ratios and whether they have negative health and safety records. Also, inform yourself about staff changes. Frequent changes are not a good sign, nor are they good for residents.
The two most common red flags are lack of transparency and negative resident and family feedback. If you notice that, skip immediately to another facility.
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