When you begin considering the possibility of placing your family member in a nursing care facility in New Mexico, chances are your decision has not come before extensive time was spent weighing your options. At Harvey & Foote Law Firm, we are committed to acting as advocates for nursing home patients and their families in guaranteeing they are treated with compassion and respect.
Once you have finalized your decision to move your loved one into a nursing home, there are several important factors that you should spend time looking at. These include the following:
- Staff and resident demeanor: Observe how the people behave and respond to you when you visit a facility for the first time. Do the residents appear well cared for, clean and comfortable? Have the staff members spent adequate time giving you a tour and answering your questions with clarity and transparency?
- Condition of facility: The building you are visiting should be maintained and be appealing while also having adequate modifications to address the needs of the patients.
- Social environment: A reliable facility will have options for social interaction for their patients so that your loved one can continue to build friendships and enjoy the connection that comes with social activity.
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, surveys that are conducted on Skilled Nursing Facilities and Nursing Facilities can happen unannounced, at any time. This means that if the facility you have chosen for your family member is surprised with an unexpected visit from officials who are surveying its compliance with state and federal laws, you will know whether or not if they are living up to the standards of care, they originally advertised to you.
When you put adequate time into researching and screening the facilities you are considering placing your loved one in, you can feel more confident about the type of experience he or she will have. For more information about protecting your loved one in a nursing home, visit our web page.
