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Life in a Nursing Home: Smart Ways to Watch Over Your Loved One

Modified on May 9, 2017 at 7:20 PM

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There might be a point in time when a loved one is no longer able to care for themselves and needs to move into a nursing home, but that decision can often raise just as many questions as it does provide answers to an emotional dilemma.

It is only natural to worry about how your loved one will cope with their new surroundings and just as importantly, you will have concerns about how well treated they will be by nursing staff and other residents.

Here is an overview of how to ensure that your loved one gets the respect and treatment they deserve, including some tips on liaising with the nursing home when creating a plan of care and how to ask the right questions to ensure your relative is getting the compassionate care you want them to have.

A written plan

Sadly, nursing home complaints show no sign of reducing in number and this can be very distressing for relatives who are understandably concerned about the welfare and treatment of someone they love.

There is a formal procedure that starts when your loved one is admitted to a nursing home and this provides the basis of what you expect the care providers to do in order to meet the individual needs of your relative.

It is important to understand that a nursing home is required to make a considered assessment of your loved one’s overall needs and then create a written plan of care that they will need to provide to you within 21 days of their admission.

This is your opportunity to discuss the contents and provide your own input so that a suitable plan can be created that focuses primarily on giving them as much independence and quality of life as possible.

The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 does provide you and your loved one with more than the right to participate in the plan of care process and it is also designed to provide a layer of protection from any potential wrongdoing on the part of the care home, such as administering drugs as a method of restraint.

These are emotive issues and there are some topics that you would rather not contemplate but if you want to get the best care possible for your loved one it is vital that you take an active part in creating a plan of care that works towards achieving that aim.

Asking all the right questions

It is often a testing period when a loved one first takes up residence in a nursing home and it perhaps to be expected that they might feel upset or even insecure in their new surroundings, but those feelings should subside if their emotional and physical needs are being taken care of.

There are a few key questions you can ask your loved one when you visit and if you question them in a more conversational tone you are more likely to get an answer that can highlight any specific concerns that might need to be addressed.

You will want to know that they are starting to feel comfortable in their surroundings and if not, what things are preventing them from feeling that way. You will also need to try and find out if there is anything in particular that is worrying them, and whether they feel safe or not.

Try and find out how well caregivers respond to the call button in their room and whether they have managed to make some friends with other residents or with a specific caregiver.

It can often be a good sign when your loved one mentions that they like a member of staff in particular, as it demonstrates that they are making new connections and have a certain level of acceptance of their new situation.

Spotting the warning signs

You don’t want to think that your loved one is being mistreated but at the same time, it would be the wrong thing to do to turn a blind eye and hope things improve.

If your loved one seems to be spending a lot of their time alone in their room rather than socializing with others, that withdrawal could be an indication of an underlying concern that they have.

Vary your visiting times and days if you can, so that you can see if their care is consistent throughout the week and there is no noticeable difference regardless of when you visit.

Actively involve yourself in discussions with the caregivers and ask them for feedback on how your loved one is faring as well as asking your relative so that you be reassured there is consistency.

You always hope that your loved one has a positive nursing home experience and enjoys the best quality of life possible, but you have to play your part in making that happen.

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Posted By The Fashionable Housewife
on May 10, 2017 at 12:14 PM
Filed Under: Home Life, Parenting
Tagged With: elderly, nursing home, Parenting, senior, senior care

About The Fashionable Housewife

Sarah-Jean Ballard is the Editor in Chief of The Fashionable Housewife blog and Founder of Fashionable Media. Married to a sexy Molecular Biologist, housewife, mom to 5, homeschooler, Certified Personal Nutritionist and entrepreneur who's mission is to help moms just like you look and feel GREAT! Other interests include dancing, yoga, positive intactivism, natural birth and breastfeeding support, babywearing, paleo & gluten-free cooking, and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle to all.

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That’s the biggest lesson that grief has taught me. If I just wait around to be happy again, I’ll die sad. 

You don’t get through grief and come out the other side. That’s not how it works. You learn how to grow around it like a tree grows around a rock that’s in the way. You don’t wait for the rock to move. Cause it’s not gonna. 

Choose happy. And then make it happen. 

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The last 20 years with you have been my favorite years on this earth. ❤️ 

If I did anything right in my life, it was when I decided to give my heart to you.  You are my best friend, my soul mate, my better half, my rock, my everything. 

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He was over the moon when we gave him the @lovevery floor mop that actually works! He uses it daily now. The mopping pad is machine washable and you can refill the fluid container on it. I usually just do water and a drop of essential oils because he loves it when everything smells clean! 😜 

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Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hol Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hole. 

Sometimes we outgrown relationships. Sometimes we realize someone else isn’t a good influence on our lives. Sometimes we realize we aren’t a good influence for someone else. Sometimes we need to let things go that aren’t good for us in order to grow. And that’s ok. 

Stop trying to sit at a table you are no longer welcome at. Just be yourself, focus on God, love your family and friends, and the right people will gravitate to you. ✌🏻 

#raisingsaints #momlife #motherhoodunplugged #selflovejourney #growingpains #selfcaresunday
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The “Steffi” in green are the perfect boots for ushering in spring weather with their delicious vintage leather and worn-in look right out of the box. I love the chunky lug soles and inside zippers to get them on and off easily. 

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You do not find a happy life. You make it. 

That’s the biggest lesson that grief has taught me. If I just wait around to be happy again, I’ll die sad. 

You don’t get through grief and come out the other side. That’s not how it works. You learn how to grow around it like a tree grows around a rock that’s in the way. You don’t wait for the rock to move. Cause it’s not gonna. 

Choose happy. And then make it happen. 

#choosehappy #joyinthejourney #griefjourney #healingfromtrauma
8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favor 8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favorite. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, @daeinexplains 🥰

The last 20 years with you have been my favorite years on this earth. ❤️ 

If I did anything right in my life, it was when I decided to give my heart to you.  You are my best friend, my soul mate, my better half, my rock, my everything. 

I love you.

#couplegoals #marriedlife #motherhoodthroughinstagram #weddingday #marriagegoals #yourestilltheone
Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍ Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍♀️

This little guy always asks to help when he sees me cleaning the house, washing the floors, doing laundry, or emptying the dishwasher. That’s what I love about Montessori parenting - it allows kids to do  big jobs and in turn makes them eager to help! 

He was over the moon when we gave him the @lovevery floor mop that actually works! He uses it daily now. The mopping pad is machine washable and you can refill the fluid container on it. I usually just do water and a drop of essential oils because he loves it when everything smells clean! 😜 

Definitely recommend! If you want to grab this mop for your little helper, it’s in the Storyteller Play Kit from Lovevery for 3 year olds. 

LlNK is in my bio to get FREE shipping! 💃🏼

#lovevery #loveverytoddler #loveverypartner #montessoriathome #montessoriplayroom #montessoritoddler
Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hol Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hole. 

Sometimes we outgrown relationships. Sometimes we realize someone else isn’t a good influence on our lives. Sometimes we realize we aren’t a good influence for someone else. Sometimes we need to let things go that aren’t good for us in order to grow. And that’s ok. 

Stop trying to sit at a table you are no longer welcome at. Just be yourself, focus on God, love your family and friends, and the right people will gravitate to you. ✌🏻 

#raisingsaints #momlife #motherhoodunplugged #selflovejourney #growingpains #selfcaresunday
When your toaster breaks from a power surge you ta When your toaster breaks from a power surge you take that as a sign that it’s time to upgrade! 🤪

It wasn’t hard to pick a new 4 slice toaster. As soon as I saw this one from @haden_usa I added it to my cart. I bought it from @lordandtaylor because it had the fastest shipping and I didn’t want to wait! 

No fancy electronics, screens, or extra features we don’t need. Just simple, straight forward functions and perfect results everytime. Plus it matches all my @cafeappliances too! 😂👍🏻

What do you think of this 4 slice toaster?! 

#toasters #kitchenappliances #kitchendesign #kitchendecor #whitekitchen #farmhousekitchen #farmhousestyle #whiteappliances
I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @en I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @enjoiya! 💃🏼 

The “Steffi” in green are the perfect boots for ushering in spring weather with their delicious vintage leather and worn-in look right out of the box. I love the chunky lug soles and inside zippers to get them on and off easily. 

These are the boots you’ll want to wear again and again. And again. 

Use my coupon code BALLARD20 to get 20% off your order! Find them on www.enjoiya.com

#leatherbooties #enjoiya #italianshoes #realmomstyle #momstyle #momstyletips
All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with the prices of eggs right now! 🤪 🐔 🥚 

Guess it’s ok to be a crazy chicken lady and have a homestead now! 🤣

#momlife #crazychickenlady #homesteadlife
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