Protecting Your Loved One: Tips from an Elder Abuse Attorney
1. Trust Your Instincts
We are often asked by family members what they can do to ensure that their loved one is not neglected while in a skilled nursing or assisted living facility. While there are a number of things that can and should be done, among the most important is for family members to trust their own instincts about what they witness going on in the facility generally and the care being provided to their loved ones.
2. Beware of Appeals to Authority
As members of a complicated society, we are accustomed to deferring to others when it comes to a host of issues that we deal with in our daily lives. Healthcare is no exception. We often believe that we should “trust” what we are being told by healthcare providers when our loved one is placed in a health care setting. But this trust is often misplaced.
3. Know Who Provides Care… and Who Doesn’t
Nursing homes and assisted facilities are not hospitals. Family members must be aware that doctor involvement in your loved one’s case once she or he is put in a nursing home or assisted living facility is minimal at best. For the most part, your loved one will be cared for by unlicensed healthcare providers under nominal supervision from licensed nurses. These individuals are typically undertrained and undersupervised, and work in an environment that is often understaffed.
While they are not to blame for the conditions the corporate owners have put them in, they generally have not done anything to earn your trust. If something does not seem right, be aggressive in asking questions and going up the management chain to get answers until you are satisfied.
4. Go Outside the System
Be prepared to go outside of the nursing home or assisted living facility to reach your loved one’s primary care physician – and anyone else who will help you in advocating for your loved one. Though “trusting” these healthcare providers is understandable, don’t defer to facility employees until they have proven to you that they are worthy of your trust.
5. Be the Squeaky Wheel
We are often asked by family members what they can do to ensure that their loved one is not neglected. While there are a number of things that can and should be done (none of which will necessarily ensure that your loved one will be free from neglect), among the most important is for family members to be the proverbial “squeaky wheel” when their loved ones are in a nursing home or assisted living facility.
Being the “squeaky wheel” means first and foremost being present as much as possible so that facility personnel understand that they are being scrutinized when it comes to the care they are providing.
6. Build Trust Through Diplomacy
Family members should also develop good relationships with facility personnel so that they will better humanize your loved one in their care.
Many family members are concerned that if they “complain” about lack of care that may subject their loved ones to retribution when the family members are not present. While this risk conceivably exists, we believe it is far more important that facility personnel understand that the family is paying attention to the care that is being provided. As with all human interactions, there are ways to diplomatically interact with personnel in a way that is not off-putting, but is effective in ensuring that your loved one gets the best possible care.
For a free consultation with an elder abuse attorney, contact Dudensing Law by submitting a form or calling our offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Sacramento.
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