What to look for when choosing a nursing home

One of the most difficult decisions for a family is to remove loved ones from their homes and enter them into a nursing home. While in a vast majority of cases this is best for the person, who often can no longer take care of himself or herself and does not have the proper care on hand to address all of their needs, there are rare times when a nursing home also fails to provide the necessary care we assume they will provide to our loved one.

It is important to understand that nursing home abuse does not necessarily mean physical violence against a patient. Simply neglecting proper care is also considered abuse. Nursing homes are held to a specific standard of care. Failing to provide adequate meals, medications and basics, such as proper cleaning and bathing of a patient, as well as changing of clothing and bedding, are all responsibilities of the nursing home facility.

Considering that many people who are in a nursing home are already compromised, either physically, mentally or both, it may be the responsibility of family members and friends to keep an eye out for signs of possible neglect or abuse. It may help save the life of not only your loved one, but all other residents of the facility as well.

In many cases, a wrongful death can be prevented. But, it may take proactive measures to make sure that such a tragedy doesn’t occur. If a wrongful death has already occurred, to prevent future occurrences and to properly penalize the negligent party the family of a lost loved one may want to consider filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the nursing home facility.