South Carolina Nursing Home Lawyer & Attorney : Poliakoff & Associates Law Firm : Elderly Care, Senior Care

Online Nursing Home Resource Provided by IQ Nursing Homes.  IQ Nursing Homes announces the launch of their new website, a comprehensive online research tool for nursing home residents and concerned family members.

(EMAILWIRE.COM, July 17, 2008 ) New York - IQ Nursing Homes announces the launch of their new website, a comprehensive online research tool for nursing home residents and concerned family members. A national nursing home directory, up-to-date nursing home news, nursing home deficiency reports, and legal resources for victims of nursing home abuse and elder neglect cases are now just a click away on one easy to navigate site.

With increased life expectancies in today’s society leading to higher numbers of nursing home residents, IQ Nursing Homes recognized the need to create a free, complete online nursing home resource. Careful research is imperative to ensure that the nursing home to which you entrust your loved one’s care is reputable and safe. When you visit IQ Nursing Home’s national directory to locate elder care facilities in your area, you can also check nursing home deficiency reports to make sure the facility you choose provides the best care possible to its residents.

In addition to directories and information, IQ Nursing Homes provides a way for nursing home employees, residents, and their families to combat elder abuse and neglect. These are serious, prevalent problems that can result in physical and emotional suffering. Painful bed sores, broken hips, and even death are among the afflictions the nursing home residents face at the hands of negligent or abusive caregivers. Resources to help individuals recognize and report these problems are available on the IQ Nursing Homes website, including signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect and an anonymous abuse report form.

If abuse is suspected, a free nursing home abuse case evaluation is also available on the site. IQ Nursing Homes has partnered with expert nursing home lawyers and law firms throughout the country with the goal of putting a stop to the victimization of the elderly. By holding negligent and abusive staff members accountable for their actions and making it financially devastating for nursing homes to allow abuse and neglect to occur, this epidemic can be put to an end.

Be IQ Smart. Visit http://www.iqnursinghomes.com/ to learn more.

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RN Karen Mowers has an article in The Daily Star newspaper which discusses how a family should choose a nursing home.  However, many times a person goes into a nursing home from the hospital. In those situations, often the family does not have time and relies on the social services person at the hospital to decide. This is a mistake.  The consumer should have the final say. 

Ms. Mowers has some good tips to assist you in choosing the right nursing home for your loved one.
Begin by researching the nursing homes in your area by reviewing The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' website, www.medicare.gov, that provides a section titled "Nursing Home Compare."   Comparisons can be made in relation to quality, staffing ratios, survey reports and fire safety deficiencies.   (This information can be unreliable depending on the enforcement of your state's regulatory agency)

Contact other resources such as hospital discharge planners, social workers, physicians and your local Office for the Aging or ombudsman (volunteer resident advocate) who can be contacted through the local Office for the Aging as well. 

Formal visits or tours can be scheduled through the Department of Social Services, or you could just stop by and take a look around. Visit with residents, families and staff as you look around, and observe the activities.

Other things to be considered when selecting a nursing home:  Bed availability, staffing, activities, policies, services and fees, preventative care programs, nutritional services, and treatment options.

Karen Mowers, a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science degree, is director of nursing services in the Fox Nursing Home.
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There is a new website called Seniordecision that can help families research and decide on placing a loved one in a nursing home.  Any information you can get on the home is helpful in making the right decision.

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The National Citizen's Coalition for Nursing Home Reform is a grass roots organization of people who want to protect the elderly who reside in nursing homes. Their website is a great resource for family members and lawyers who handle nursing home cases.

www.nursinghomeaction.org/default.cfm

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