Sometimes you have to decide to move your loved ones into a nursing home, no matter how you feel about these institutes. Nursing home care professional facilities provide care and support to older people who cannot look after themselves. However, moving your loved one into a nursing home doesn’t mean your work is done and you no longer have to keep tabs on their well-being. Instead, it would help if you become more frequent in checking up on them and ensuring they are safe. Here’s how:
- Pay Your Loved Ones A Visit
You should try physically seeing your loved one as much as you can. Nursing homes allow visitation, and if they try to stop you or discourage you from coming for no valid reason, you should have them investigated. Your loved one is entitled to physical visitations, and a nursing home cannot deprive them. While you’re with your loved one, pay attention to their physical appearance. Look for signs or bruises, wounds, and if your loved one looks weaker than before. If you feel doubtful about their health, you may take them to a doctor and get a complete checkup.
Often health conditions like bed sores are not visible right away. These injuries develop when too much pressure on the skin reduces blood flow to that area. Bed sores have a range. If your loved one has stage 4 bedsores, they’re being severely neglected, their body is under immense stress, and the nursing staff is not doing their job in maintaining circulation in that region. These severe injuries that can put your loved one at risk of contracting an infection give you the grounds to sue the nursing home. Never hesitate to file a claim against neglectful and abusive establishments.
- Request For Their Health Chart
Nursing homes may carry out essential evaluations and inspections on their residents. This routine exam helps caregivers while looking after patients to mind their health. As your loved one’s guardian, you can request details on your family member’s health and ask for charts if needed. Once you get the information, you need to cross-check the report and ask a reliable doctor to weigh in to get a general idea of your loved one’s health.
You should intervene if you suspect the nursing staff is falsifying records or not properly examining your loved one. Your family member is entitled to optimal medical care, and if they’re not getting enough clinic time, you can hold the nursing home accountable.
- Provide Them With A Smart Device
Smart devices like iPads or tablets come with applications like video chatting and texting that can keep your loved one constantly in touch with you. It makes it easier for you to see your loved one anytime and gives them the liberty to talk to you. During a video call, ask about their health; notice if a caregiver is lingering around listening to your conversation or if your loved one is scared talking to you. This unusual behavior should alarm you; if needed, you may need to physically go to the nursing home. It will help if you teach your loved one how to text with a smart device.
You can teach them basic keystrokes and develop a particular term or code word in case they feel unsafe or mistreated at home. A nursing home cannot take away your loved one’s personal belongings. Although, they can request your family member to put the device aside, like when putting your loved one to sleep. They cannot snatch or confiscate their electronic gadgets.
- Go Out With Your Family Member
Nursing homes allow family members to take residents with them for a little while. For instance, you can request to take your loved one out shopping or take them for a walk. Certain nursing homes may have strict visitation policies for the sake of their residents, but if your loved one is in good health and can liberally move around, they should have no problem letting your family member leave with you.
Getting your loved one away from the nursing home can boost their health. Even if your family member is happy at the facility, the change in scenery and a chance to be with you may put them in a good mood. If you have children, you should also bring them along for a visit. It can help your loved one feel connected again to you and strengthen your bond with them.
- Call Your Loved One Often
If you do not get time to visit your family member physically, try finding ways to stay in touch with your loved one. Having a busy schedule doesn’t mean you cannot call or check up on them with a quick conversation on the phone. Even if you have a brief chat with them, your attention and the time you delegate from your schedule to your family member will make them feel valued. Talk about different topics, from getting to know their routine to familiarizing yourself with the staff that attends to your family member’s needs. You can also bring up current events to keep their mind engaged.
Final Thoughts
There comes a time when you can no longer provide care or look after your loved one as you should. In such cases, it’s a good idea to shift your family member into a nursing home. However, once you move your relative into these facilities, it doesn’t mean you should stop checking up on them or assume your family member no longer needs you. But, try to stay more connected with them and keep yourself updated on their well-being. Unfortunately, despite their well-crafted reputation, certain nursing homes can be abusive.
The last thing you should do is leave your loved one vulnerable and ensure you’re up to speed on their well-being. Hence, try visiting, video calling, text messaging, and even taking out your loved one for a leisurely day out. During this time, evaluate their physical condition, find out if they’re being bullied or threatened, and use this information to hold the nursing home accountable.
