Once the decision has been made to put an elderly family member in a nursing home, it’s time to start looking for a facility you can trust to provide adequate care. With their health and safety on the line, this is an important choice to make for a loved one, and it’s crucial you get it right the first time. To ensure you find the best living experience possible, the nursing home lawyers at Reed Law Offices in Omaha, NE, suggest conducting a thorough search before making your selection. Here, they recommend the following do’s and don’ts to help in your quest for a nursing home.

Do: 

Schedule a tour.

It’s imperative to take a tour of any nursing home you’re thinking about moving a loved one into. You will want to look for a clean and orderly environment, while keeping an eye out for any signs of potential issues. Pay attention to how the staff and residents interact. How do the residents spend their time? Do they look groomed and happy?

Consider more than outward appearances. 

Nursing home lawyers encourage looking beyond outward appearances when visiting a facility. High prices and lavish amenities don’t necessarily indicate quality care. It’s also essential to consider the staff’s skills, the facility’s record of violations, and the resident-to-staff ratio.

Don’t: 

Leave your loved one out of the decision-making process.

Regardless of how your loved one might feel about moving into a nursing home, involve them in the process of picking a facility as much as their mental capacity will allow. This will help them feel more in control of the situation and make it easier for them to accept their new living conditions. 

Neglect to review the contract carefully.

The biggest mistake you can make in selecting a facility is not reading the fine print before signing on the dotted line. The contract will include a variety of rules and policies related to issues such as pricing, pets, visitors, and medical treatment. It’s wise to review the document with a nursing home lawyer who can clarify anything you might not understand.

Despite your best efforts to choose a good facility, you might still discover your loved one isn’t receiving an acceptable level of care. In this case, you will need an experienced nursing home lawyer to help hold the staff accountable for their abusive or negligent actions. The legal team at Reed Law Offices can inform you of your nursing home rights and explore options for pursuing justice. Contact them at (402) 933-0588 or visit their website to learn more about their services.