Placing a loved one in long-term care is a huge decision, and certainly not one that can be made quickly or without a lot of thought, especially because it’s sure to come with a lot of emotions – you need to keep them safe and protected, and you also want to make sure they have a good quality of life, but there will probably be feelings of guilt even if you know you’re doing the right thing. It’s hard for everyone, but sometimes it’s the only option. 

The key is to make sure you know as much as you can about the care home you’ve chosen as well as care in general so you can protect your loved ones in long-term care. With that in mind, read on to find out more. 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Know Their Rights

The first thing to do if you want to make sure your loved one is protected in long-term care is to know their rights – there are different laws and rules for different places, so you’ve got to be sure you know the right ones. For example, if you live in Illinois, the IL Nursing Home Care Act is a hugely important piece of legislation that’s designed to keep residents safe when they’re in a care home or nursing home, and it makes sure they’re treated with dignity and respect and that there’s no neglect or abuse. 

There are going to be laws in place wherever you are, so before you make any decisions, it’s wise to learn about them and familiarize yourself with what they mean so you can be sure the care home you’ve chosen it sticking to the rules – and so that if you spot anything untoward, you know you can get legal help to stop it. 

Visit Regularly

One of the simplest but ultimately most effective ways to protect your loved one is to just be there – visit as much as you can. Regular visits can keep you up to date with their condition and how happy and healthy they are, but it also shows the care home staff that you’re willing to be involved and you care about your relative; it helps everyone to know they’ve got a strong support network. 

When you’re visiting, pay attention to how your loved one seems, what their mood is like, and how they look. You can also watch any interactions between staff and other residents, see how clean the place is, and whether the activities on offer actually seem like fun and are engaging. These are things you just won’t know or have any idea about if you don’t visit, and seeing (and feeling) things first-hand is always the best thing. 

Be Involved 

Every resident in long-term care should have a personalized care plan that has all the information about their medical needs, preferences, and the goals for their medication or treatment. If you want to help protect your loved one when they’re in long-term care, it’s important that you’re involved in this care plan as much as possible (bearing in mind you’re probably not medically trained, so there will be limits). 

One thing you can do is schedule regular meetings with care home staff to get updates or bring up any concerns you might have. In that way, you’ll always be on top of things, and the staff will know you’re happy to help, which can make a big difference.