As the country continues at home to curb the spread of COVID-19, there are some sections of the population that aren’t able to achieve this level of social isolation. Over 4 million elder Americans currently reside in Nursing Homes, and even though these facilities provide vital services to residents, they also add inherent risks in the event of a global health pandemic.
Nursing Home residents are surrounded by a considerable number of people every day. They have interaction with the staff members and come into contact with other patients too. And this can be a problem, particularly considering elderly individuals are at great risk of suffering a severe (and even deathly) case of COVID-19.
For these reasons, it is vital that you monitor the care of your loved one very closely during this crisis. The following instructions will help you make sure the Nursing Home is doing their part to keep your loved one safe and healthy:
Guarding a Loved One at a Nursing Home
Investigate the Ratings
We recommend you to go online and research the sanitation and staffing ratings for the Nursing Home caring for your loved one. In times like this, ratings will overlap to some degree. Understaffing may cause staff members to hurry, reducing the likelihood that they’ll clean their hands between checkups. This can lead to unsanitary conditions that may increase the risk of a COVID-19 crisis at the facility.
You can find these ratings using Medicare’s Compare Tool. It provides information on every facility in the country which has been certified by Medicare and Medicaid.
Visit Often, If Allowed
If you’re currently permitted to visit a resident, make sure you go there as often as you can. Check the place sanitary practices and carefully observe the health of the elder, if he or she appears to be sick, follow up with the staff immediately. Ask the staff if anyone at the facility has tested positive for COVID-19 and if so, what actions have been taken to ensure all infected individuals have been properly quarantined.
If the Nursing Home at this time prohibits visits to curb exposure to COVID-19, then you should call the facility on a regular basis to ask about your relative’s health and the steps being taken to ensure sanitary conditions.
Elaborate a Plan
You should have a plan in case your loved one gets ill. The first thing to do is to check with your relative’s primary care doctor and ask the facility to place him or her in a hospital if they need special treatment. If the facility won’t assist in getting your loved one to the hospital, you can call an ambulance and arrange for hospital admittance yourself.
Contact Our Lawyers
Are you looking for the best Elder Abuse Lawyer in Los Angeles, Gharibian Law is here to help defend the rights of your loved one. If the Nursing Home acted neglectfully and it resulted in your elder relative getting sick, we can help you file a neglect lawsuit to hold all negligent parties accountable for any illness your loved one suffered as a result of their actions. Contact us at 888-288-0091 or schedule a free consultation now.
