Moving Your Loved One to a Nursing Home? 5 Things to Check Off the List

Most of us would like to live with our loved ones to the end. However, it is rarely possible, especially considering modern lifestyles. You have to admit to yourself when you cannot give your loved one the best care and need someone to help you do it. 

There are many excellent nursing homes around the country. You have to find one that best suits you and your loved one. You will probably have various requirements for a nursing home, among other things.

The following are some items to check off the list before moving your loved one to a nursing home:

Legal Protection

History has proven that taking your loved one to a nursing home is not all rainbows and sunshine. Things can go wrong; there are widespread cases of misconduct and other issues at nursing homes, meaning you have to ensure your loved one has the necessary legal protection in such cases.

If you live in Philadelphia, you should consult a nursing home lawyer in Philadelphia before moving your loved one to a facility. Ensure they are well versed in Pennsylvania state laws and have experience dealing with nursing home cases. After ensuring you are legally protected, you can be sure that your loved one is fully protected.

Staff

You must ensure before sending your loved one to a nursing home that the facility has sufficient staff. There have been cases of nursing home negligence caused mainly by the lack of adequate staff in nursing homes.

Therefore, you should ensure that the facility has the staff to handle your loved one’s needs. The critical aspect is the ratio between staff to patients, with a 3:1 split of staff to patients being recommended. Also, observe how the staff treats patients as that is how they will treat your loved one.

Essential Items

You will be packing many things when moving your loved one to a nursing home. You will essentially be uprooting their lives to an entirely new location. Therefore, you should ensure they have everything they need.

The first things to check off the list when packing will be essential items. Essential items will include clothes, shoes, beddings, pillows, toiletries, towels, e.t.c.

You should contact the nursing home beforehand and find out what items your loved one needs to bring. Hence, you can get the big things out of the way first, like furniture and essential items.

Medical Records

If you are taking your parents to a nursing home, chances are they have an underlying medical condition that is preventing you from taking care of them. The nursing home will require your loved one’s medical records if they are to take proper care of them.

Therefore, you should ensure that their physical or electronic medical records are high atop the list of the things you need to submit to the nursing home before moving into the facility.

Make copies of every available medical record and hand them over to the medical records to the nursing home. They will come in handy in case anything goes wrong.

Special Needs

As we get older, we develop special needs that need to be catered to if we are to live full lives. These needs for others are peripheral, while for some, they are mandatory. The last thing to check off your list before moving your loved one to a nursing home is that they have everything necessary to live full lives at the facility.

Those with conditions like Dementia, Alzheimers, Arthritis, Diabetes, and other chronic conditions need these needs fulfilled to survive.

Moving your loved one to a nursing home is a difficult decision and whose execution requires preparation. If you want your loved one to adapt quickly and live well in the facility, check off the above items from your list. The list will depend on your loved ones and their specific needs.

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