Four Ways to Protect your Parents in a Nursing Home

It’s never an easy decision to put your mom or dad in a nursing home. But many times, elderly people get to the point that they need around the clock attention from medical professionals. The staff of a nursing home is supposed to be there to ensure your parents receive a high level of physical, mental, and psychosocial care. Sadly, this doesn’t always happen.

In studies conducted of over 2,000 nursing homes, a shocking 44 percent of residents said they had been abused. Even more, 95 percent said they had witnessed abuse. With such startling statistics, it’s important to research which home will provide your family with the best care.

Each nursing home resident has rights provided by the federal 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act. Below are just a few examples of a resident’s rights.

Medicaid or Medicare discrimination – Some nursing homes are guilty of telling residents that the services the resident needs are not covered by Medicaid or Medicare. Nursing homes that follow this illegal practice will often try to get residents to pay in advance for their care. Every resident eligible for Medicaid or Medicare is permitted to receive all services he or she needs. Federal law requires a nursing home to uphold equal policies and practices in regards to the services they offer “regardless of source of payment.”
Following the care plan – Each resident will be administered a care plan within 21 days of entering the nursing facility. The resident’s doctor, registered nurses and all other nursing staff should be in agreement and follow the care plan.
Using physical restraints – Though it seems harsh, some conditions do require physical restraints. However, this is only in extreme cases and should never be used on a resident to prevent wandering or fix behavioral problems.
The use of psychoactive medication – Psychoactive medication is used as behavior-modifying medication. It can only be used to treat a resident’s medical condition, not as a disciplinary action. These drugs have been linked to risks that include less functional progress and a longer stay at nursing facility. A nursing home study showed that 30 percent of residents received a psychoactive medication, while one-third did not need it.

It’s vital to research each nursing home facility to ensure your loved one will be taken care of with the highest quality. If any of the four rights discussed have been violated, it’s important to file a complaint and seek legal advice.

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