5 Signs of Top Quality Nursing Home Staff
Did you know that the CDC’s data shows that there are over 1.3 million residents in nursing homes across the U.S.?
If you’re thinking about moving a loved one to a nursing home, you likely have some reservations about their safety and care.
To find the best fit, look no further than the nursing home staff. Keep reading to learn about five signs to look for that will let you know your loved one is cared for!
1. Experience
The best nursing home has a low rate of turnover and happy, experienced staff. Always ask to see a nursing home’s credentials before making your final decision.
Any facility worth your time will be more than happy to provide you with a list of certifications and awards they’ve received throughout the years, as well as in-depth information on their staff’s experience caring for the elderly.
2. Compassion and Empathy
Working in a nursing home can be a challenge, especially if it’s a home that specializes in the care of sick patients. While it may be hard to find people who love your family members as much as you do, great nursing home staff should come in a close second.
Examine how the staff interacts with their residents. Kindness and compassion go a long way, especially if a resident seems distressed.
3. Gentle Physical Handling of Residents
Sometimes a resident may become unruly or dangerous to others. In these cases, even the best nursing home staff may have to physically guide the offender away and remove them from the situation.
How they handle a resident can tell you a lot about the nursing home’s priority, though. One of the top things to look for when choosing a nursing home is the presence of physical marks on residents.
If you see red marks or bruises, there’s a high likelihood that staff uses excessive force and could put your loved one’s health at risk.
4. Positive Demeanor Among Residents
You won’t be able to glean everything from what the staff tells you. Instead, you’ll need to look to the residents themselves for answers.
Pay close attention to the body language of the residents you come across.
Do they look happy? Is it clear they’re taken care of? Are their clothes clean?
If residents appear unhappy or unwashed, you’re witnessing one of the telltale signs of bad nursing home staff.
5. Quality Interactions With Guests
Though we’ve placed a lot of emphasis on how the best nursing home staff interacts with residents, let’s not forget that you, as a guest, will interact with them, too.
As such, they should extend the same kindness and respect they offer their residents to you and your family.
That means lots of eye contact, direct answers, and electronic communication in a timely manner.
What to Look For in the Best Nursing Home Staff
When push comes to shove, the best nursing home staff see their residents like family, not a job. Remember these five signs as you start finding the perfect home and you’re sure to find a place your loved ones will enjoy.
For more information on everything health and home, be sure to browse the rest of our blog.
Trevor Anderson wrote this article on behalf of FreeUp. FreeUp is the fastest-growing freelance marketplace in the US. FreeUp only accepts the top 1% of freelance applicants. Click here to get access to the top freelancers in the world.
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