When looking for a long-term care facility, it may seem overwhelming. There are plenty of options, and many people have an opinion about what makes a good care facility.
How can a person tell whether or not the facility they are looking at has any red flags?
Revolving door staff
The National Institute on Aging discusses red flags that accompany long-term care homes. The first red flag comes in the form of staff turnover rates.
If a facility constantly needs to hire new people in any department, it is a potential indication that something is wrong with the department itself or the facility as a whole. For example, high turnover rates often indicate worker burnout. Worker burnout goes hand-in-hand with rising rates of neglect in the healthcare field.
Maintenance of the facility
Next, it is important to take a tour of all potential care facilities whenever possible. This is due to the fact that it is much easier for people to hide flaws when communicating over the phone or via email.
In person, it is possible to see any glaring flaws that the facility may have. Does it seem poorly maintained? Does it appear dirty? Are crucial pieces of equipment out of date?
Worker attitude
On top of that, it is also possible to get a first-hand look at the attitude of the workers and how they treat their jobs and the responsibilities therein.
Any potential red flags will stick out much easier in an in-person meeting, so try not to skip out on them, especially for care facilities that are a strong consideration.
