What to Look for in an Omaha Nursing Home

When making the decision, and selecting a nursing home for your loved one, it is one of the most difficult things we may need to do in our lives. Selecting this home will require extensive research, along with visiting each nursing home. While visiting these nursing homes, we must look for specific things to fulfill our loved ones needs, and most importantly, keep them safe.

According to the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, there are six million people over the age of 65 in nursing homes, and over 20 percent of these individuals receive adequate care. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct research and discover the nursing home which will provide the greatest amount of care.

Our nursing home abuse attorneys have tremendous sympathy for those injured due to the negligence of nursing home facilities, and believe that all injured victims may be eligible to receive compensation for losses and damages. For more information about how we can help, call 1-877-537-4665, or complete the Free Case Evaluation form on this page today.

The Facility

Prior to entering the nursing home, make sure the grounds and buildings are well manicured and clean.  When you enter the nursing home, pay attention to environmental factors including noise levels, cleanliness, free of odors, quiet areas, and a reception desk upon entry. Some features to pay close attention to include:

  • Are doorways wheelchair-accessible?
  • Are floors clean?
  • Are their handrails on the walls?
  • Can the facility be easily evacuated during a fire?
  • Do call buttons, telephones, television sets, and faucets work?
  • Is the room a comfortable temperature?

Staff Members

While visiting a nursing home, pay close attention to the staff members, as they will be the ones providing care to your loved ones. Take not of how they interact with residents and how quickly they respond to the residents. All staff members should know their residents by name, be friendly with other staff members, and always knock before entering a room. Some things to pay attention to include:

  • Are doctors available at all times?
  • How often do doctors visit the nursing home?
  • How often does the staff update their training?
  • Is the staff trained by the Alzheimer’s Association?
  • Is there a full time social worker on the staff?
  • What level of training does the staff receive?
  • What types of staffing patterns are used?
  • Who trains the staff members?

Rooms

When looking at rooms, make sure the rooms are well-lit, attractive, and cheerful. Make sure there are plenty of windows, and a call bell if they are in need of assistance. Look to see if there is storage space for your loved one, and if the room is wheelchair accessible. A few questions you may want to ask include:

  • Are all rooms private or semi-private?
  • Are roommates allowed?
  • Can we bring furniture?
  • Can we decorate the room?
  • Do you allow television in the room?
  • How is my loved ones room selected?

Meal Services

When inquiring about meal services, there are a few questions that should be asked, along with things to look for. We want to make sure that the food being served looks and smells appetizing, and if they assist residence eating, if they require such services. We should also make sure that the staff members are conversing with residents while assisting them during their meals. Some questions to ask about meal services include:

  • Are there any snacks available?
  • Are there options to choose from during mealtime?
  • Can I eat a meal with my loved one?
  • Can my loved one choose what they would like to eat?
  • Can residents participate in meal planning?
  • Do you allow food in the rooms?
  • Does a dietitian plan menus for my loved one with special needs?
  • How often are meals served?

Activities

It is important for our elderly loved ones to be active, no matter what the age. Make sure residents are staying active when touring the building, and look for an activity schedule. Some questions to ask regarding activities include:

  • Are there activities for those which cannot leave their room?
  • Are there community outings?
  • Are there special activities for those with dementia?
  • Are there weekend and evening activities?
  • How do you find out what activities the residence like?
  • How many activity staff members are there?
  • Is there a recreational therapist on staff?

Contact Our Nebraska Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Today

At Inkelaar Law, our attorneys have years of experience handling nursing home abuse cases and will investigate every possible angle contributing to the losses and damages to your loved one in order to obtain the MAXIMUM compensation available.

Our attorneys all operate on a contingency fee basis for injury victims, which means that we will not charge you anything for our services unless we achieve a successful verdict or settlement and you recover for your losses and damages.

Headquartered in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, our attorneys are able to provide services throughout the state.