Asking the Right Questions to Protect Nursing Home Residents

To ensure the well-being of your loved ones in a nursing home, you must advocate for them. Residents in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities can be more vulnerable to illnesses such as the flu, pneumonia, and other contagious diseases due to age, underlying health conditions, and close living environments.

According to the American Family Physician Journal, a flu outbreak in a nursing home can affect 20 percent or more of residents. Therefore, understanding the safety measures a nursing home has in place is an important part of protecting your loved one’s health and wellbeing.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home or other long-term care facility, AARP has identified specific questions to ask about the facility. These questions can help you better understand how the nursing home manages health, safety, staffing, and communication.

For families managing long-term care decisions, it can also be helpful to review your loved one’s estate planning documents, including any healthcare directives or powers of attorney, to ensure their wishes are followed.

Important Questions to Ask a Nursing Home

Before choosing or continuing care at a nursing home, ask questions about the areas that have the greatest impact on your loved one’s safety and quality of life.

Area to Review	Questions to Ask
Health and infection prevention	What steps does the facility take to prevent illness outbreaks and protect residents?
Staffing	Does the nursing home have enough qualified staff available to meet residents’ needs?
Communication	How does the facility communicate important updates with families?
Resident wellbeing	How does the facility support social engagement, activities, and emotional health?
Emergency planning	What procedures are in place if staffing shortages or health emergencies occur?

Ask About Nursing Home Vaccinations and Health Measures

One important step in protecting nursing home residents is understanding the facility’s vaccination policies and health procedures.

Ask the following questions:

• What proportion of staff and residents are up to date on recommended vaccinations?
• How do vaccination rates compare with state and national averages?
• How does the facility educate staff and residents about vaccine safety and effectiveness?
• What type of access to vaccines do residents have?

Understanding these policies can help families make informed decisions about whether a facility can meet their loved one’s healthcare needs.

Ask About Recent Illnesses and Outbreak Procedures

Nursing homes should have clear procedures for identifying and responding to illnesses. Ask whether anyone at the facility has recently tested positive for an infectious disease and how the facility manages potential outbreaks.

Important questions include:

• Have any staff members, residents, visitors, vendors, maintenance workers, or others with access to the facility recently tested positive for an infectious disease?
• How many people, if any, have been affected?
• What testing procedures does the facility follow for residents or staff showing symptoms?
• How does the nursing home notify families if an outbreak occurs?

Understand How the Nursing Home Prevents Illness

A well-managed nursing home should have preventative measures in place to reduce health risks for residents.

Ask about:

• The screening process for staff, visitors, and other people entering the facility.
• The procedures used after identifying a positive case.
• Whether residents require isolation and how their care needs are managed.
• How frequently common areas and resident spaces are cleaned and sanitised.
• What precautions are taken for residents who share rooms.

How Does the Nursing Home Support Family Communication?

Regular communication helps families stay involved in their loved one’s care. Ask how the nursing home helps residents maintain relationships with family members and friends.

Questions to consider include:

• What infection control measures apply to visitors?
• Does staff help residents communicate with family members by phone or video?
• Can the facility arrange regular communication schedules with loved ones?
• How can family members receive updates about changes in a resident’s condition?

Review Nursing Home Staffing Levels and Care Services

Adequate staffing plays an important role in providing quality care. A shortage of staff can affect essential services, including personal care, medication management, and daily activities.

Ask:

• Is the nursing home fully staffed with doctors, nurses, aides, and other workers?
• What backup plans are in place if staffing shortages occur?
• How does the facility ensure residents continue receiving support with bathing, feeding, medication management, physical therapy, and social engagement?

Ask About Activities and Quality of Life Programs

A nursing home should focus on more than just medical care. Activities, social connections, and emotional support can significantly improve a resident’s quality of life.

Ask:

• What activities are available for residents?
• Are exercise, entertainment, and social activities adapted to meet residents’ needs?
• Are any services suspended or limited? If so, why?
• How does the facility support residents’ emotional and social wellbeing?

Protecting Your Loved One’s Rights and Future Care Needs

If you have a spouse, parent, sibling, or other loved one living in a nursing home, they depend on you to advocate for their protection and wellbeing.

Asking the right questions helps ensure that their nursing home facility or long-term care services prioritise their health, safety, and quality of life.

It is also important to ensure your loved one has appropriate legal documents in place, such as a power of attorney, healthcare directive, and an updated will. These documents can help ensure their wishes are respected if they become unable to make decisions for themselves.

Speak With an Estate Planning Attorney in Mount Dora, Florida

If you’re looking for an estate planning attorney in the Mount Dora, Florida area, please give us a call or drop us a line! We look forward to hearing from you!