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2. Assuring Good Care at a Nursing Home

NEXT: "Page 3 - Paying Without Losing Everything."
PREVIOUS: "Page 1 - Finding a Good Nursing Home in Massachusetts."

The responsibility of a family member to assure that his or her loved one receives the best possible care doesn't end upon admission to a Nursing Home. Although a facility is responsible to provide good care, it is up to the family to hold the nursing home accountable for that responsibility. Your responsibility lasts through the end of a patient's life; here are some ways to help you plan for and shoulder it:

assuring good nursing home care > 19K
  1. Understand the Plan of Care

    The first step towards getting good care at a nursing home is determining who is in charge and then establishing a dialogue with this person. The doctrine of "informed consent" does not end when someone is admitted to a nursing home. Someone with legal standing needs to approve the care plan for the nursing home resident.

    If the nursing home resident is not mentally competent to approve the care plan, then an alternate decision-maker is needed, either via a Probate Court guardianship proceeding, or via a valid Health Care Proxy signed by the resident and appropriately witnessed.

    arrow.blue (<1K)Download a free copy of the approved Massachusetts Health Care Proxy

    Again, if you feel under-qualified to assess the care plan presented by the nursing home, a Geriatric Care Manager can review the plan and provide professional advice and counsel.

    arrow.blue (<1K)Find a Geriatric Care Manager in New England.
    (New England Chapter of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers)

    2. arrow.blue (<1K)Find a Geriatric Care Manager
    (National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers)

  2. Understand Nursing Home Residents' Rights

    Read the Resident's Rights in the Admission Packet thoroughly! Federal and state laws require that the nursing home make a number of disclosures to you at admission. You will be asked to fill out paperwork specifying what steps you wish to be taken in various critical circumstances (such as a "Do Not Resuscitate" order). It is important for the staff to know well in advance what procedures you authorize them to take in these situations.

    arrow.blue (<1K)Summary of Nursing Home Residents' Rights
    arrow.blue (<1K)Federal Medicare law on nursing home residents' rights
    arrow.blue (<1K)Federal Medicaid law on nursing home residents' rights
    arrow.blue (<1K)Massachusetts Attorney General's regulations regarding Long Term Care Facilities
    arrow.blue (<1K)Keeping Nursing Facility Residents Safe: A Guide to Preventing and Reporting Abuse, Mistreatment and Neglect from the Mass. Attorney General's office.
    arrow.blue (<1K)Your Rights Regarding Medication in Massachusetts including what is informed consent, exceptions to informed consent, what to do if illegally medicated.

  3. Maintain a dialogue with the staff

    Call the facility on a regular basis to check on the resident's status. Encourage them to call you whenever they see a change in the resident's health or behavior. nursing home care checklist > 11K When you visit the facility, take time to talk with the staff about their observations concerning the resident.

  4. Review your checklist on a quarterly basis

    The same Nursing Home Facility Checklist used to help evaluate the facility, can also help you monitor the ongoing care. Pay particular attention to the General Observation, Staff, Medical Services, Meals, and Activities sections in making your re-assessment. Report any deficiencies to the appropriate person in change.

  5. Resolving Disputes

    In long term care situations, there are numerous opportunities for misunderstanding to occur and disputes to arise. Some of these could be the quality of the food, bothersome roommates, lack of privacy, insufficient occupational therapy, or the expected quality of attention and care given residents. None of these concerns should be dismissed lightly because they greatly affect the resident's quality of life. When residents aren't treated with due respect. When promises are broken or when expectations aren't met, it's time to open a dialogue to see what can be done to alleviate the situation that is causing your family member's distress.

    arrow.blue (<1K)Step-by-step recommendations for resolving disputes with Nursing Homes.
    arrow.blue (<1K)For serious nursing care issues you feel need to be escalated, you can download this complaint form provided by the state.

Take a fun nursing home care quiz NEXT: "Page 3 - Paying Without Losing Everything."
PREVIOUS: "Page 1 - Finding a Good Nursing Home in Massachusetts."
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Copyright 2001-2006, Attorney Brian E. Barreira - 508-747-8282 - serving Plymouth, Hingham and surrounding counties. Site by RW Mullaney Consulting.

Site provided by a Certified Elder Law Attorney (1K) This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Persons accessing this site are encouraged to seek independent counsel for advice regarding their individual legal issues.
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