By Nisha Kaushal
One of the most difficult realities is having to face the possibility of spending the rest of one's life in a care home. Having to make the decision to have a loved one placed in a home is almost equally as difficult. The top concern a family will likely have is whether their loved one will receive the best care possible. Nursing home horror stories abound, and no one wants to think about their family member becoming a victim of abuse or neglect. There are many way to ensure the safety of a resident in care homes Wales.
Do your research.
Before placing a family member in a nursing home, investigate thoroughly. Check to see if the home has had any negative reports against it. Talk to families who have had loved ones there in the past and discover their reasons for leaving. If you hear mostly positive stories, ask who those caregivers were. Verify that they are, in fact, still there and have not been replaced during the ensuing years. Meet with the director but keep in mind that their job will be to put the most positive spin on their facility.
Make frequent unannounced visits.
Once your loved one is a patient, make frequent unannounced visits to the home. This is an excellent way to see what is really happening, both to your family member and others. There will be much less opportunity for abuse or benign neglect when the families of residents are dropping in and out frequently. Be sure to vary the hours from early morning to late at night. Overnight is the time when residents are most likely to be at risk.
Walk around and observe.
Observe the current patients and see if they seem well taken care of. Nursing home residents may be in pain and may not be brimming with joy while in a nursing facility, but they should be physically well cared for. Patients should be up and around as much as possible, and the staff should be actively engaging with them. Patients should not be confined to their rooms, if they are at all mobile. Those who are bedridden should have both their health and socialization needs met in some fashion. There should be both planned and casual activities.
Talk to other residents' families.
Getting to know the families of other residents has many advantages. You will be able to compare notes. Being in the loop will ensure that you will hear about things that would otherwise be smoothed over. If your family member has dementia or verbal difficulties, a friendship with the family of a more expressive and observant patient may allow you to learn important information about your loved one's well-being when you are not there. Knowing the other families will also make it easier to form a group to confront abuse or other problems if the need arises.
Get to know the nursing staff.
The nursing staff can be some of your most important allies. They are likely to provide better care when they know that the family is actively involved. If a resident's family is friendly and shows an interest in them as caregivers, they may be better able and willing to provide cheerful care to the resident. Investigate the nursing staff. Find out what qualifications they have for working with patients. Discover if they've worked in similar positions. Ensure that they have no prior history of patient abuse.
No one wants to think about the possibility of their family member experiencing anything less than the best of care from a care home. Being proactive and staying involved are the best ways to ensure an optimal experience for your loved one.
About the Author
My name is Nisha, I represent a care home facility in Wales called MHA. I like to write about elderly care and families. Feel free to visit our site for more information on care homes in Wales. |
