Unfortunately, many seniors suffer from abuse and neglect every year while in health care facilities, and may need the help of a top nursing home lawyer Hyattsville MD offers. Attorneys who are experienced with personal injury cases involving seniors in nursing homes may be able to help them recover compensatory damages from those responsible. The lawyers of Cohen and Cohen, P.C. have fought for injury victims for more than 20 years, and ur legal team has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients.

If a loved one is in need of legal representation after suffering from a personal injury, contact the attorneys of Cohen and Cohen, P.C. make an appointment for a free consultation. When you need a nursing home lawyer Hyattsville MD families trust, give us a call.

Tips on Choosing a Senior Living Community

Finding the right long term health care facility for your loved one can be a difficult process. There are many factors to consider when making this important decision. A nursing home lawyer Hyattsville MD provides is here for you and your family if needed, but the following tips may help you choose a safe and comfortable living situation for the elderly family member in your life.

Generally speaking, a senior living community is a good fit for those who are fairly active physically and mentally. Perhaps they can’t keep up with all their daily chores, but their desire to socialize hasn’t lessened. For many seniors fitting this description, a senior living community might be a good choice. To help determine if this is the case, consider the following:

• Ask lots of questions and observe your loved one. It’s important to gauge their needs, wishes, and abilities. Take this information into account when choosing a long term living arrangement for them. A nursing home lawyer Hyattsville MD seniors rely on might suggest looking for indications that their living situation needs to change. Signs that it may be time for them to live in a community that is better equipped to handle their needs can include:

• Difficulty keeping up with daily chores such as laundry, cleaning, meal preparation, running errands, and shopping
• Loss of vision
• Forgetfulness or memory loss
• Depression
• Dementia
• Significant weight loss
• Fatigue

• Research viable living options for your loved one. Questions you need to answer include:
  • What is your loved one capable of in terms of self care?
  • Based on their ability to provide self-care within the last year, can you envision what their needs may be in a year from now? This might require input from healthcare professionals who may need to perform an in-person assessment and diagnosis. A nursing home lawyer Hyattsville MD community members recommend will often suggest getting copies of all medical documentation for future reference.
  • What is financially possible for current housing and care needs?
  • What will the financial picture be a year from now? Five years from now?
  • What facilities are available for your loved one that are geographically desirable to you and your family?
  • Are there legal issues you need to take into consideration, such as power of attorney? For legal advice, consider contacting a nursing home lawyer Hyattsville MD locals hire.
  • Has the senior living community been involved with any lawsuits? If there have been any incidents involving abuse or neglect, a Hyattsville MD nursing home lawyer may have been hired by a resident or their family. Perform a thorough internet search on any communities you’re considering for your elderly family member.

• Identify priorities for your loved one’s care. This can help you make a clearly thought-out decision. Your list may include:
  • Price or affordability
  • Location
  • Available activities such as exercise, off-site shopping, or recreation
  • Services such as meal preparation, ambulance and fire, laundry, etc.
  • Socialization opportunities with fellow residents
  • Ability to continue pursuing favorite hobbies

• Determine if the senior living community can provide a level of care that will offer a reasonable degree of certainty that your loved one will be safe and well cared for. Visit potential senior living communities and speak with staff in person. Ask them questions such as:
  • What are your procedures for handling residents’ medical emergencies?
  • How will you monitor my loved one’s condition in case it changes?
  • What are your staffing levels broken down by time of day?
  • How many registered nurses do you have on location 24/7?

• Visit as many senior living communities as possible. If you are not the one who is considering joining, take your loved one who is. There are several reasons for this:
  • It’s an opportunity for him or her to get an in-person impression of the community to help decide if they would be comfortable there.
  • As a family you can ask questions of staff and other residents, and receive immediate answers and impressions.
  • Seeing the grounds, rooms, common rooms, and facilities in person may reveal more accurate information than a brochure
  • Visiting in person can give a better sense of how quiet or social the community members are with one another.
  • You can explore the surrounding neighborhood. Does it feel safe? Is it clean? Are there stores or theatres nearby that would interest your loved one?
  • Inquire about transportation options and ask what the community offers residents. Are there daily or weekly shuttles to town? Are there nearby airports for visiting family members?

• Speak with current residents of the community. Don’t be shy about asking current residents questions. The more information you can gather about a particular senior living community the better. Here are several suggestions:
  • Do you enjoy living here? What do you enjoy about it?
  • What do you dislike about living in this community?
  • What were some of the challenges you faced in finding the right community?
  • What would you have done differently if you knew then what you know now?

Choosing the right senior living community for your loved one can be challenging and stressful. If there are legal questions, or if your elderly family member has been abused or neglected while in a healthcare facility, contact a nursing home lawyer in Hyattsville MD. The attorneys of Cohen and Cohen, P.C. have represented thousands of personal injury victims. When you need a qualified nursing home lawyer Hyattsville MD is proud to have in the community, call us for a free consultation at (301) 637-8381.