While there are plenty of safe, ethical skilled nursing and retirement homes, there are also red flags that may indicate a community is not the right fit, writes U.S. News in a report this week. Advising shoppers of senior living services on the process of searching for a nursing home or assisted living community that is of the safe and ethical variety, U.S. News notes five qualities to be wary of.
From a history of violations to a number of severe violations, U.S. News advises readers of the research process including a start with Medicare.gov which now includes a searchable database of nursing homes by zip code. SeniorAdvisor.com and a new feature from A Place for Mom that allows shoppers to search for records on a state by state basis are other tools recommended by U.S. News.
High staff turnover can be another warning sign, as it might indicate a lack of personal interaction between staff and residents, the article writes. Another is residents lacking independence.
“So if you see personal touches in residents’ rooms, such as photos or decorations on the wall, that could be a good sign,” U.S. News writes, noting that some communities don’t allow for wall hangings. Further, an attention to amenities and services that are easily accessible to residents should be present.
Finally, any feeling of uneasiness should be a sign, the article notes.
Written by Elizabeth Ecker
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