Nursing Home Risk Factors

Placing someone we love in a nursing home facility can be a difficult and painful decision. However, it is the best decision if that family member needs around-the-clock care by trained medical professionals. Finding a nursing home in Albany that can provide the best care and treatment can be challenging and there are several factors to look for in choosing the best option. The best way to decide which facility is the best for your loved one is by looking at the following risk factors:

• Does the facility have an abuse prevention policy?
• Does the staff receive training and education on a consistent basis?
• Is the staff thoroughly screened before hiring?
• Are there policies in place to reduce staff stress and burnout?
• Is there a high staff turnover?
• What is the ratio between staff and patients?
• Does the facility have a history of deficiencies or complaints?
• What is the culture and management style within the facility?
• What is the physical environment in the nursing home?
• How frequent are visitors to the facility?
• How does staff generally interact with residents?

Nursing homes must comply with federal and state regulations or be subject to penalties and fines up to and including closure of the facility. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) monitors the quality of care in these facilities through unannounced surveys that are conducted approximately every 16 months. There are surveys that investigate complaints and incidents and follow-up surveys that monitor progress in correcting cited nursing home deficiencies. In 2007 it took approximately 6 months between a facility survey and the issuance of fines and penalties. In 2014, the time increased to four years. Before your loved one is a resident at a nursing home facility, it’s a good idea to visit the nursing home, talk to residents, staff and management about all your concerns. You may also want to look up the facility’s risk profile which includes information about reports, complaints and other data such as licensing records, survey reports, police reports, resident grievances, etc.

If you suspect that your loved one is being, or has been abused or neglected in a nursing home facility, you need an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who is able to fight for your rights and obtain justice and compensation. The attorneys at The Law Office of Reuven Epstein have decades of experience in handling nursing home abuse, neglect and wrongful death claims, and there is no attorney fee unless and until we receive a settlement on your behalf or win a verdict in your favor.