When your elderly parents reach a point where they can no longer live safely on their own, a serious decision must be made, and it is not easy as you will be tasked with determining what group of strangers you will select to care for them.
Experts in the field of geriatric care have suggested a number of questions that should be asked, the answers to which will help you detect if you chose the right nursing home in Waldorf MD.
The food:
Having lunch with your parents in the nursing home cafeteria not only is great for their spirit, it helps you to determine if they are eating well or not. As people age they tend to lose some of the sensory sensitivity, the food may be nutritious but does it taste good as well and does it look good, these are important issues to the elderly.
The sounds:
When you visit the nursing home facilities in Waldorf MD you may hear a plea for help or some moans, these noises are not signs of mistreatment, they are usually sounds from an individual who is suffering from dementia. The sounds are not important, what are important are the sounds you hear from the staff. Staff should be addressing the person by his or her name, not something like “Grandpa” which can diminish the respect the elderly person expects.
The smell:
Medications and old age can lead to situations where the person is gassier and the elderly often lose control of their bladder or bowels. A faint odor along these lines is inevitable in a nursing home but if the place reeks of urine or feces then it’s a sure sign that sanitation is not being carefully attended to.
The staff:
Talk to the staff during one of your visits and ask them about their working hours. If they tell you that they work double shifts and overtime this can be a sign that your loved one is not getting the best of care. Overworked staff can easily become stressed because the environment of constant giving is difficult at the best of times.
Recreation:
A quality nursing home in Waldorf MD will have carefully thought out recreational activities for the patients. If the elderly individual is room bound, then activities should be brought to their room. Click here for quality elderly care services in Waldorf MD.
