Online Tools Make it Easier to Discover Nursing Home Abuses and Violations

December 12, 2012

In an ever-more digital world, information is everywhere. It is at our fingertips with smart phones, tablets and laptops. We can surf the web while getting groceries, having fast food or sipping a latte in a coffeehouse. The upside of that much information is that we have more knowledge than ever before. The downside - in some ways - is that we have more knowledge than ever before.

One area in which technological advances have definitely made life easier is the free access to information about nursing homes, residential care facilities, assisted living and in-home health care. Since the need for these services most often arises when a loved one's health has taken a turn for the worst, the ability to quickly research a facility's record of regulation violations and reviews is key.

Investigative journalist watchdog group ProPublica has recently launched an online tool to help people determine which nursing home or residential care facility is the best fit for their loved one's needs. The site allows visitors to search nursing home "deficiency reports" compiled by state and federal overseers as well as access family and patient-written reviews that detail the experiences of real people at the facilities.

Other private websites, such as the one maintained by the Delaware Nursing Homes.Net, offer additional tools to compare and research facilities by region, specialty of care, violation record, general services and patient reviews.

Of course, there are also government-sponsored research sites available for public use by those searching for the right nursing home, assisted living facility or residential care home. One of the most well-known of these is the "Nursing Home Compare" tool on the official Medicare site.

Other Forms of Information

Even after performing extensive online research, it can still be difficult to determine if a facility is the right one. That is where in-person visits can be key. Speaking to the administrators and staff at a facility is an excellent way to gather information. An even better source of honest, reputable information about a nursing home is to speak with the residents themselves. Not all facilities will allow non-familial visitation with patients, but seeking information directly from "the horse's mouth" can be extremely helpful.

When Time Is of the Essence

If a decision about the placement of a patient into a care facility must be made very quickly, then it is important that family members, friends and other loved ones visit a facility, ask plenty of questions and get care plans in writing. They must also be vigilant in looking for signs of nursing home abuse or neglect in their loved one, including watching out for unexplained bruises, bedsores (sometimes called "pressure sores"), sudden weight loss, a lack of personal grooming or bathing, and broken bones.

Moving a family member to a residential care facility or nursing home is an emotionally fraught process. You are literally putting the life of your loved one in the hands of a facility that you must trust will provide the best possible care. Nursing home comparison tools can be excellent sources of information about a facility's record of care, but abuse or neglect is still possible. If you suspect that a loved one has been abused at the hands of a nursing home's staff, speak up: discuss your concerns with administrators, complain to state licensing agencies and seek the advice of an experienced elder law attorney in your area to learn about legal options to help make the situation right.

Article provided by Law Offices of Joseph J. Rhoades, Esq.
Visit us at www.rhoadeslegal.com