Choosing a Nursing Home
Attorney for Abuse & Neglect
Elder Abuse | Pennsylvania · New Jersey
Bedsores · Wrongful Death · Malpractice Lawsuits · Elder Abuse
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Be Proactive When Choosing a Nursing Home
Making the decision to place a loved one in a nursing home can be very difficult. Determining which nursing home is best for your loved one—whether in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, in Philadelphia, Bucks, Mercer, Montgomery, Lehigh, or a nearby county—can be very challenging.
Even before you decide if you are going to place your loved one in a nursing home, it is advisable that you begin researching long-term care facilities. There are many to choose from, and some nursing homes are certainly better than others. A bit of research on your part can go a long way in helping you make an informed decision.
Where to Begin
The first place you should start is with your state’s Department of Health. In both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the Department of Health oversees the nursing home industry. The PA and NJ Departments of Health maintain a complete list of all skilled nursing facilities in their state. This is a good place to go to first see how many nursing homes are located in your vicinity. More importantly, the Departments of Health in Pennsylvania and New Jersey conduct facility-wide surveys annually of each statewide nursing home. These surveys evaluate the quality of care provided at the nursing home as well as the overall condition of the facility. These survey results are available to the public.
Tour a Nursing Home
After you have a few facilities in mind, you will want to visit them and take a tour of each nursing home. Contact the facility and make an appointment. Although a tour cannot tell you if your loved one will be subjected to nursing home abuse or neglect, it can give you a general idea of how well the facility is maintained. It may also provide a general sense about the quality of care.
When taking a nursing home tour, observe the overall condition of the facility. Observe if it is in good repair and whether it is clean. While doing this, you need to look for something else, too. You need to try to determine if the facility supplies an adequate number of staff to care for its residents. The number one reason Pennsylvania and New Jersey nursing homes commit nursing home abuse and neglect is due to short-staffing of nurses and nurse aides. For various reasons, the nursing home owners often cut back on labor forces. This leaves elderly nursing home residents very vulnerable to nursing home abuse and neglect.
When touring the facility, note the following:
- Observe how many staff members you see around the facility.
- Are the care providers you see attentive to their residents?
- Do the care providers appear to enjoy their jobs?
- Observe the residents, and see if they look well cared for.
- Take the time to inquire with the facility staff and, if available, the residents about the quality of care provided.
- After your tour, ask to speak with the facility administrator and ask him or her about nurse-to-resident ratio and turnover rates.
Brian P. Murphy, Nursing Home Malpractice Attorney
Since 2006, attorney Brian P. Murphy has devoted his legal career to fighting for the rights of elderly and vulnerable nursing home residents. Mr. Murphy has litigated many cases of nursing home abuse and/or neglect. Mr. Murphy knows precisely where to look and with whom to speak to make sure your loved one gets the care he or she deserves.
Signs of Neglect and Abuse in Nursing Homes
Short-Staffing at Nursing Homes and Facilities
Remember that most Pennsylvania and New Jersey nursing homes are for-profit entities. Some nursing home business owners are far more focused on increasing profits than on providing proper care to their nursing home residents. As a result, staffing levels at their nursing homes are kept at dangerously low levels which many times leads to neglect and/or abuse.
In Lieu of Choosing a Nursing Home:
PA & NJ Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals
Attorney, Brian P. Murphy, investigates claims of neglect and abuse in Pennsylvania and New Jersey hospitals and assisted living facilities, as well. Loved ones can suffer abuse or neglect at an area hospital or assisted living facility, so you will need to be vigilant when placing your loved one in an alternate facility. You may contact Attorney Murphy for a free consultation while contemplating your decision.
Contact an Attorney
Brian P. Murphy is an experienced and well-regarded New Jersey and Pennsylvania nursing home abuse attorney. He has successfully represented many elderly nursing home residents subjected to abuse and neglect. Mr. Murphy handles cases throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. If you see signs of nursing home abuse or neglect, take immediate action today. Contact nursing home abuse attorney, Brian P. Murphy, to discuss your potential legal matter.
This website is owned by Attorney Brian P. Murphy. Its purpose is to assist you in understanding your rights, especially when it comes to preventing or protecting yourself and/or your loved ones against nursing home abuse, neglect, bedsores, dehydration, and wrongful death. Legal matters are billed on a contingency fee basis.
Nothing on this website is to be construed as attorney advice or otherwise creating an attorney-client relationship. If you may be interested in establishing a relationship with The Law Firm of Brian P. Murphy, PC, please contact us to discuss your options.