If you had little choice but to relocate your parents to a nursing home, you must trust the staff at the home to give your mom and dad effective care. Sadly, even if you perform your due diligence when selecting a nursing home, you probably cannot guarantee they receive top-notch care.
According to Human Rights Watch, nursing homes have become less transparent in the last couple of years. This is largely because relatives and independent monitors have had to comply with social distancing rules that often limited visits with residents or eliminated them altogether.
Staffing shortages
Like with other sectors, many nursing homes around the U.S. are experiencing staffing shortages. These shortages are particularly problematic for nursing home residents, though, as residents simply may not receive the care they need to thrive.
A lack of oversight
As the adage goes, mice play when the cat is away. While it may not hurt to give a nursing home the benefit of the doubt, a lack of oversight may play a role in nursing home neglect or even abuse. That is, if there are no outsiders to complain, nursing homes may skirt their obligations with impunity.
Resident loneliness
Nursing home residents who are generally happy may be more likely to object when they are receiving substandard care. With isolated residents, though, neglect may seem like just another part of nursing home life. Therefore, if your parents are lonely, they may not tell you about the inferior care they are receiving.
Ultimately, by checking in regularly with your mother and father, you may minimize their chances of becoming victims of nursing home neglect.