Elder abuse and neglect remain a significant concern across the country. Registered nurse attorney Angela T. Vagotis provides useful tips on how to identify the right nursing home and reduce the risk of abuse or neglect for your loved one.

1. How to Find the Right
Nursing Home & Lower the
Risk of Abuse & Neglect
Presented by:
Angela T. Vagotis Co. LPA
Huntington Bank Building
Suite 940
220 Market Ave., South
Canton, Oh 44702
www.avagotislaw.com

2. Where to Start
Nursing home abuse and neglect are real.
Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. nursing homes were cited
for violations of federal standards that had
potential to cause harm or that had caused
actual harm to a resident between 1999 and
2001, according to a federal report.
But you can reduce the likelihood of your
loved ones becoming victims by carefully
vetting the facility that will care for them.
Here are important tips for assessing a long-term care facility,
based on information provided by the Ohio Department of Aging.

3. Location
Be realistic.
Will the distance between the nursing home and friends and
family facilitate or hinder visits to your loved one?
Regular visits and vigilant observation are two of the best ways
to identify nursing home neglect or abuse before it reaches a
critical level.

4. Services
Does the facility’s description of services match your loved
one’s medical, social and community connection needs?
On the other hand, family members of a
person at risk for medical complications
would want to find a facility that has
appropriate medical staff on around-the-
clock duty.
For example, in selecting a facility for a
person who enjoys socialization and an
active lifestyle, it would be good to
consider nursing homes that offer a
wide variety of activities and outings.

5. Quality Indicators
The Ohio Department of Health provides a wide range of
reports on nursing homes. Make sure to check the following
information (all easily available online) as part of your review:
• Inspection Reports, providing information on compliance
with state and federal law
• Facility Details, such as special services, religious or
fraternal affiliations, accreditation, costs, and staffing
ratios
• Family Satisfaction Survey Scores, reflecting the
opinions of residents’ family members
• Resident Satisfaction Survey Scores, detailing
residents’ perceptions gathered through face-to-face
surveys

6. Costs
Once you have your short list of
preferred nursing homes, it’s
imperative to visit each facility to
observe practices and interview
administration, staff, residents
and residents’ families.
Here are some things to look for:
As you narrow down your options, confirm with each facility
that it will accept your loved one’s insurance coverage or
Medicaid or Medicare or that the rates are within your ability
to pay privately.

7. Good Signs
Look for positive staff behavior, like:
• Treating residents with respect, friendliness and
patience
• Knowing residents by name
• Being familiar with residents’ likes and dislikes
• Knocking before entering a resident’s room
• Assisting residents with eating, as needed
Other good signs are if a facility:
• Provides appetizing meals in a clean, pleasant setting
• Allows residents – even those in shared rooms – some
amount of privacy
• Arranges appropriate activities and leisure time
• Offers residents’ the opportunity to be outside

8. Warning Signs
Reasons for concern include:
 Poor maintenance
 Lack of cleanliness both in common
areas and residents’ rooms
 Staff socializing together instead of
addressing residents’ needs
 Unappetizing meals served at the
wrong times or wrong temperatures
You should also be wary if you see
residents:
 Dressed improperly with poor
personal hygiene
 Slumped in wheelchairs in hallways
 Given unappetizing food at the wrong
times or the wrong temperature
 Left unassisted and unable to eat at
mealtime

9. Interviewing Tips
Interviewing the director or other supervisor is also a good tool
in assessing whether a long-term care facility is appropriate
for your loved one. The state of Ohio provides an online
checklist that can serve as the basis for those discussions.
In addition to the director, you should also try to speak with a
resident or two and their families at each facility. Their
insights can provide useful information to help shape your
decision.

10. Or call her at 330-456-4122.
Of course, even with the most careful vetting process, unexpected acts
of abuse or neglect can occur in nearly any long-term care setting.
If you believe a loved one is the victim of nursing home neglect or
abuse, contact authorities immediately and find an expert who can help
you sort through your situation.
Registered nurse attorney Angela T. Vagotis has provided expert
representation for many nursing home abuse or neglect victims.
Visit her website at www.avagotislaw.com for more
information.