What Should You Know Before Placing Your Parent in a Nursing Home?

There are currently more than 1.6 million Americans living in nursing homes. If you’re considering placing your own parent in an assisted living facility, you probably have a number of serious concerns: Will my mother’s needs be properly met? What about all the stories of nursing home abuse? Choosing a nursing home can be scary, so how can you be sure that your loved one is in good hands?


As a nurse who has worked in nursing homes for years, I would say, "Use Caution." Understaffing is the biggest problem. They want your money but grandma may not get the care you desire. When they get time, grandma will get taken to the bathroom. She will eat and get out of bed when they say. Sure, they will tell you differently and the State Results they share with you will show "High Quality Recommendations," but trust me, I have worked at these places long enough to know what goes on behind "closed doors and curtains." If the doctor orders a urine specimen, if grandma objects, she will get "held down" and she will get a catheter stuck up her urethra, like it or not. Advice: Ask that any procedures, you must be present. Inconvenient for you but if your mom is crying and in pain, would you not want to comfort her or better yet ask if the procedure is necessary and don't be afraid to refuse for her sake. Dehydration is prevalent as patients may get water in their pitcher daily but who will sit with them and make sure they get it? What will your loved one do most of the time? Sit in a chair and wait. Wait to go to the bathroom. Wait for the nurse to give her/him a pain pill or other meds. Wait for snacks of dry crackers to be passed. Wait for someone to change his/her soiled clothes/diapers. Wait for someone to have time to help her/him out of a chair and into bed. Wait for a visitor. Wait to see a doctor in hopes of getting care and only being allowed a quick hello and spending 5 minutes with her/him. Wait in a row of other people in wheelchairs to go to the dining room to eat a substandard meal. Wait for any request to be met as the nurse's aides and nurses are "too busy" to come now. Wait "To Die." You make the choice.
By alayna staggers, a nurse.


its better to follow a good health regime and stay away from medicines.


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I never put my parents in a nursing home - it never entered my mind. They were my life when I was
young, then I was their life (to care for them), when they were old. Schools should teach students
these five good words to use in their every day living - common sense, compassion, empathy,
reasoning and wisdom. It's a beautiful feeling to have your parents with you for as long as possible.
Once your best friends have gone, they've gone physically forever.
Who can care for the elderly better than their own loved ones, if they are fortunate to have,.


See, I think that when the primary focus is monetary, care becomes the secondary focus. Actually, it usually becomes the third; how do we cut corners to make more money, but still make it Look like the patients are getting the best? is the second.


And, usually, that's the case. There are three areas in which non-profits excel: Education, Health, and Banking. That's it. Everything else you can privatize and it would function better. However, as much as it's just such a shock, history is all you need to say "Oh, gee, I guess greed does get the better of people." It's a proven fact. Therefore, keep the greedy, money-engineering hands away from our kids minds and their grandma's and all should work out well. As long as there is oversight that is open to th public. Public involvement is the major factor.


Any time you have a government managed/funded system expect the system as a whole to care less than it could.


Reference: See Walter Reed for more info.