As families try to live healthier and be more aware of their choices, they often skip talking about aging and long-term care until something goes wrong. However, having those talks about future care is important to make sure our loved ones get the respect, safety, and dignity they deserve as they get older. Here are three key conversations every health-conscious family should have to ensure their loved ones’ well-being.
Understanding and Preventing Wrongful Death in a Nursing Home
Discussing the risks and realities of nursing home life, especially the risk of wrongful death in a nursing home is one of those uncomfortable but essential conversations. It’s a topic of harsh reality because, despite all the laws, abuse and neglect remain enormous issues in so many long-term care facilities.
When someone you care about passes away because of neglect or abuse, it hits families hard as they deal with their grief and look for answers. Talking about this risk with your family can help you make better choices about care options and picking a place. You should know that nursing homes are legally required to keep things safe and provide the best possible medical care.
If they fail to fulfill this duty, and it leads to a preventable death, the families can sue for justice and some reparations. Such legal proceedings help families to cover funeral costs, medical bills, and loss of companionship, among others, and they hold facilities responsible that may enhance standards of care in general.
Documenting Healthcare Preferences and Legal Protections
Another significant debate is recording healthcare preferences and establishing legal safeguards. Families forgo these conversations too frequently because they’re uncomfortable, but not clarifying wishes leads to crisis, confusion, and conflict.
Advanced healthcare directives, or living wills, enable people to indicate what type of medical care they do or do not wish to have if they’re unable to speak for themselves. Thus, the care they receive is in agreement with what’s most important to them, and whether they want to focus on comfort or specific quality of life.
Just as important is a long-term power of attorney for healthcare. This legal document names a trusted agent to oversee medical decisions on behalf of the individual if they become incapacitated. Without it, families can find themselves dealing with legal roadblocks or fights over who gets to make life-or-death decisions.
Evaluating and Overseeing Care Facilities
It’s also vital to discuss and understand how to evaluate and maintain oversight of healthcare facilities. Even the best planning will not always match the quality from one institution to another, and there always has to be a watchful eye to ensure standards are upheld.
Families should have conversations about what’s most important in selecting a facility, including location, staff-to-resident ratio, specialized services, and facility compliance with federal and state regulations. It’s important to know what oversight mechanisms are in place, including inspections, compliant processes, and enforcement, in order to hold facilities accountable.
After a loved one is in a care environment, families need to stay engaged by visiting, talking with the staff, and watching for behavioral or health changes. Having the ability to make complaints and escalate concerns if there’s a problem is helpful. Most facilities are mandated to report events and allow inspection, but standards enforcement is largely dependent on family advocacy and monitoring.
Endnote
Open, active communication regarding aging and care is a responsibility and an act of love. Confronting the risks of wrongful death in a nursing home, recording health and legal preferences, and keeping an eye out for facility monitoring are all ways that health-oriented families can respect their loved ones’ wishes and defend their well-being at any stage of life.
