Nursing Home Safety Planning

The choice to move to or place an elderly loved one in a nursing home or other long-term care facility can be a tough one to make. Fortunately, there are a few things you can to do make the process easier for everyone, and to help ensure that you or your senior loved one is as safe and comfortable as possible.

Consider the Facility’s Emergency Response Plan

Life is unpredictable. Because you can never know when an emergency could arise, it is important that you carefully review the emergency response plan of the facility where you move or plan to move your loved one. If the worst were to happen, what safeguards and procedures are in place to minimize the danger and ensure that all residents are properly cared for?

In addition to emergencies such as fires, floods, and storms, how does the facility handle a health crisis? What about an outbreak of a contagious illness? By considering these factors now, you can help make sure that your loved one is placed in a facility where he or she will be properly cared for.

What About an Evacuation?

One thing you need to inquire about is the facility’s evacuation plan in the event of a fire or some similar disaster. When there is a fire in the facility, every second counts. This is something that should not be left to chance: the facility should have a solid evacuation plan, and all the members of the staff need to be trained to follow the plan.

When you look at a nursing facility, you are looking at the place to live or where your elderly loved one will live, with you are not around to help out. Because of the awesome responsibility involved in proving proper adequate care, proper investigation and planning on your part is key. By following these tips, you can help yourself—or your loved one—to rest easier at night.