Recently, you had to put your aging parent in a nursing home in Maryland. That said, you may still have reservations regarding your loved one’s safety and peace of mind.
To help you out, the Nursing Home Abuse Center compiled a list of preventative measures to head nursing home injuries off at the pass. Talk to nursing home administrators to ensure these, or similar, measures are in place to protect residents.
Limit sedative medications
While medications can most certainly make nursing home residents comfortable, they can also open the door to unnecessary injuries. Specifically, sedative medications may make residents drowsy or sluggish, which can lead them to injuring themselves.
Assess residents
Nursing homes should perform thorough individual assessments of residents to determine their overall level of injury risk. Some residents are more mobile, accident-prone or capable than others.
Complete staff education
All caretakers and nursing home staff members who help take care of residents need proper injury prevention training. Education and training need to include patient risk assessment and accident prevention methods.
Implement system checks
Nursing home patients may receive more medication than necessary, which can increase their risk of injury. To prevent this, system checks should be in place. Additionally, medication should not become a form of chemical restraint for difficult patients.
Engage residents in exercise
Elderly individuals who engage in regular exercise are often more mobile than sedentary senior citizens. Regular exercise and health supplements can help residents keep their feet firmly on the ground, where they belong.
This information is only intended to educate and should not be interpreted as legal advice.