While many seniors choose to live at home, others, especially those with certain illnesses, opt for nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
While many
seniors choose to live at home, others, especially those with certain illnesses, opt for
nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Such institutes are growing in number and importance as countries deal with the issue of aging demographics. But despite being required to have various safety and security measures in place, threats to the health and well-being of residents are still present.
“Unless a family can afford a private nursing team, or an in-home agency for round-the-clock care, assisted living facilities and nursing homes typically afford greater safety for seniors with chronic health problems than living alone. Unfortunately, there are still safety hazards present in many assisted living facilities and nursing homes,” said a recent post by Senior Directory.
According to the post, nursing homes and assisted living facilities must have various security and safety measures in place, including:
Safety alert system
According to the post, most assisted living facilities and nursing homes have safety alert systems that allow residents to call a nurse in the event of an emergency. “Bathrooms should be equipped with an emergency pull string, and every bed should have a call button nearby,” it said. “Before placing your loved one in an assisted living facility, ask to see a demonstration of their safety alert system. These systems can help prevent falls and ensure that your loved one receives prompt attention from facility staff in the event of an emergency.”
Lighting
The leading cause of injury to seniors in assisted living facilities is falls, and family members should make sure that the lighting in their loved one’s living areas is neither too dim nor too bright, the post suggests. “Dim lighting can lead seniors to trip over obstacles and fall. Lighting that is too bright is just as dangerous – it may obscure hazards that cause elderly people to get hurt.”
Administration of medications
The more medications a senior takes, the greater the risk of a dangerous pharmaceutical interaction or overdose, the post notes. “Many residential care facilities put daily doses of medications in sealed packets and cross-reference them to a medication list before administering them to senior residents.
“Don’t be afraid to ask about a facility’s procedures for administering medications before placing your loved one there.”
Security
According to the post, residential care facilities must take special precautions to
secure their premises. “Assisted living facilities and nursing homes should monitor their facilities by video, require that visitors present photo identification upon check-in, and have adequate security measures in place to make sure that residents do not leave the facility on their own.”
Another security issue concerns primarily those suffering from dementia. “Because wandering off is a risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, residents suffering from these diseases should not have access to unlocked exits," the post said.
Resident abuse prevention
According to Senior Directory, nursing home abuse poses a serious risk to seniors in residential care facilities. “Before you place your loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility, do your research. Visit the website for the agency in charge of nursing homes in your state to see if there is a history of complaints about the facilities you are considering. You may also want to conduct an Internet search to see if any news stories or consumer reviews suggest a history of nursing home abuse at the homes you are evaluating.
“Ask each facility for references, and interview facility directors about how they handle allegations of abuse.”