Rarely does anyone look forward to putting a loved one in a nursing home. Ideally, we would all be able to provide the care that our aging friends and relatives need in their final years. However, the reality of life often prevents us from doing so and many of us will require the services that a nursing home provides at some point in our lives.
However, nursing homes have a bad reputation, and for good reason. The instances of nursing home abuse and neglect seem incredibly high these days. In fact, a recent study conducted by the federal government found that 1 in 3 nursing homes were cited with some kind of violation that could have caused harm (or actually did) to one of their residents. With all the bad nursing homes out there, how can you be sure that you are selecting a good one for your loved one?
How Do Maryland Nursing Homes Stack Up?
Maryland nursing homes rank below average with the quality of care they provide to their residents. According to the 2013 Nursing Home Report Card, Maryland was given a “D.” Below are just a few highlights from the Report:
- Approximately 95% of all Maryland nursing homes were deficient in some manner.
- Approximately 17% of all Maryland nursing homes were reported to have “severe deficiencies.
- Maryland was ranked 34 out of the 50 states when it comes to nursing home care.
How To Avoid Putting a Loved One into a Bad Nursing Home
Given that many Maryland nursing homes fail to provide the expected adequate care residents are paying for, it is important that care is taken in the nursing home selection process. For example, the following are all considerations to take into account:
- Verify that the living spaces look clean and comfortable.
- Make sure that the residents are treated with respect by the staff members.
- Inquire about the staff-to-patient ratio and make sure that there are enough staff members to adequately attend to each resident.
- Familiarize yourself with the warning signs of elder abuse and neglect.
- Check the number of registered complaints filed against the nursing home.
- Research the nursing home online to find out what others have said about their loved one’s experiences.
- Check the nursing home’s ranking on the CMS Nursing Home Compare website.
Finally, once your loved one is placed in the nursing home, make sure to constantly monitor their wellbeing and ask them how they are being treated. Resident complaints are an often ignored, but critically important, sign that there are problems in the nursing home.
Has Your Loved One Been Mistreated or Neglected at a Maryland Nursing Home?
If you have a loved one who you believe was mistreated or neglected by the staff at a Maryland nursing home, you may have a legal cause of action against the home for the inadequate care it provided. To find out more about the laws surrounding nursing home neglect and abuse, and to discuss the specific facts of your case, contact an experienced Maryland nursing home attorney. The personal injury firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen has over 17 years of experience holding failing nursing homes responsible for their actions. Contact the firm online, or call 410-654-3600.
More Blog Posts:
Egregious Case of Nursing Home Neglect Leads to Federal Lawsuit, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published December 18, 2013.
D.C. Court of Appeals Examines Meaning of Reckless Indifference in Criminal Neglect of Vulnerable Adult Appeal, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published November 25, 2013.