If you have an elderly loved one who will soon need to stay in a nursing home or senior living center, you’ll undoubtedly want to find a nursing home that you can trust with their happiness, health, and day-to-day care. Unfortunately, many people have come to distrust Medicare’s nursing home rating system because it mostly relies on self-reporting done by the nursing home owners and administrators. In far too many cases, self-reporting is unreliable and intentionally omits serious health and safety concerns at a nursing home.
To give people a chance at finding a truly reliable nursing home or senior living center, U.S. News & World Report conducts its annual review and rating of more than 15,000 nursing homes nationwide. This independent review considers more than what self-reporting to Medicare might reveal and presents information in a straightforward 5-point rating.
Want to review the U.S. News & World Report Best Nursing Homes of 2024 list? Click here, select ‘Nursing Homes’ or ‘Senior Living’ in the tab at the top, and enter relevant information, such as the name of a specific nursing home or a city. The website will locate the nursing homes that were rated and approved by U.S. News & World Report.
Why Finding a Good Nursing Home is So Important
Picking a nursing home or senior living center is not a task that can be rushed. You’ll want to find the right nursing home for your elderly loved one, and it must be one that can keep them safe. Nursing home abuse and neglect are as dangerous as they are prevalent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that 10% of people over 60 experience elder abuse, often in nursing home settings. It also warns that this estimation is likely much lower than reality because it mainly relies on information compiled from emergency rooms and hospitals. Cases that don’t get reported or don’t require urgent medical attention are virtually unknown by any official tally.
When you want to find a safe, responsible nursing home, you’ll want to consider the following and more:
- Safety and security: A good nursing home ensures the safety and security of its residents, such as having proper measures in place to prevent accidents and falls. It also means having secure premises to protect residents from elopement or wandering.
- Qualified and compassionate staff: The quality of care largely depends on the qualifications and compassion of the staff. A nursing home should have skilled professionals, including nurses, doctors, and caregivers, who are not only qualified but also genuinely care about the well-being of the residents.
- Social engagement and activities: Isolation and loneliness can significantly affect the mental health of seniors. Reliable nursing homes offer a range of social activities and programs that encourage interaction and engagement among residents, such as recreational activities, social events, and opportunities for hobbies and interests.
- Nutrition and diet: Proper nutrition is vital for the elderly, especially for those with specific dietary needs or chronic conditions. A highly-rated nursing home should provide nutritious meals that prevent nutritional neglect.
- Cleanliness and maintenance: The environment of a nursing home plays a significant role in the health and comfort of its residents. Facilities that prioritize cleanliness and maintenance prevent the spread of infections and create a pleasant living environment.
- Respect for residents’ rights and dignity: A trustworthy nursing home respects the rights and dignity of its residents, allowing them autonomy and choices in their daily lives, so long as they are kept safe and healthy.
- Family involvement and communication: You will want to find a nursing home that encourages family involvement and makes it easy to reach out to your loved one with regular check-ins. When it is difficult to talk directly to someone in a nursing home, it raises suspicions of neglectful caretakers and management.
Lawsuits After Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
Even with the U.S. News & World Report Best Nursing Homes of 2024 list freely available for your use, you can never know for certain that nursing home abuse or neglect won’t happen at the nursing home or senior living center you chose. If any harm ever happens to your elderly loved one because of the mistakes or negligence of the nursing home staff and management, you should consider legal action to try to set things right.
At Brown & Barron, our team of trial lawyers is proud to stand up for the rights of families across Maryland after unthinkable negligence causes harm to their loved ones in nursing homes. We are on a mission to restore lives and justice through claims and lawsuits, including those that go to litigation. See what our 137+ years of combined legal experience can do for you and your family – dial (410) 698-1717 and request an initial case consultation now.