fbpx
Schedule Your Appointment - Fill Out the Form Below
Skip to content
The Law Office of Antoinette Bone, PLLC
Euless, TX
  • Home
  • Practice Areas
    • Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning FAQs
      • Asset Protection
      • Ethical Wills
      • Special Needs Trusts
      • Special Needs Resources
    • Elder Law
      • Medicaid
      • Medicaid Planning
      • Medicaid Resources
      • Veterans Benefits
    • Probate
    • Guardianship
  • Our Firm
    • Attorney
    • Speaking Opportunities
    • Firm Overview
  • Getting Started
  • Videos
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Careers
817-462-5454





assisted living

When is Assisted Living Not Enough?

Posted on September 4, 2019 | by Lori Pulvermacher

Jerry’s mother Jane decided, on her own, that it was time to move into an assisted-living facility. Jane’s arthritis had worsened to the point where she couldn’t dress herself, she struggled to get in and out of the shower, and she was lonely living by herself.

Jane did very well at her new place. The social activities helped her mood, the staff was available to help her bathe and to monitor her medication for her, and she appreciated not having to cook anymore.

However, over time Jane showed signs of dementia. The facility she had moved to was simply not set up to meet her needs. Dementia patients can become disoriented, wander away into danger or exposure, or become agitated or aggressive. Dementia is a particularly difficult disease to care for, as the right balance must be struck between sufferers’ need for social contact and mobility on the one hand and safety for themselves and others on the other hand.

There are facilities that provide “memory care” services, with locked doors to prevent wandering, but these are usually more expensive and Jane’s wasn’t one of them. If the facility doesn’t have staff trained in how to “talk down” and reassure an agitated or aggressive resident, staff may over-rely on psychotropic medication. But over-medicated patients are exposed to increased risk for strokes, falls, and confusion. Staffing and training regulations vary widely across the states, and often the staff-resident ratios are left to the facilities to determine. For-profit facilities must balance staffing expenses with attention to their bottom line. The problem is particularly acute in rural areas, where there are fewer facilities available.

It’s particularly important, then, that residents’ family-members keep tabs on the facility’s environment and treatment of residents. Here are questions to look out for:

  • Is the facility is clean, sanitary, and in good repair?
  • What is the ratio between staff and residents?
  • What training does the staff get? What is the staff turnover rate?
  • Are residents medically assessed at least once a year?
  • Are the hot-water temperature controls kept at a safe and effective level?
  • Are the following kept away from residents: Alcohol, cigarettes, and toxic cleaning supplies and disinfectants?
  • Are medications kept in a safe, locked place that is not accessible to anybody other than employees responsible for the supervision of the medication?
  • Is safe storage provided for knives, matches, firearms, tools, and any other items that could constitute a danger?
  • Are there provisions in place to protect life and property against fire and panic?

With careful monitoring, assisted-living facilities may provide a safe environment – but monitoring can also flag when the environment is no longer safe enough.

We help families find, access and pay for long-term care. If we can help you or a loved one, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Schedule an appointment with us by clicking the button below are give us a call at (817) 462-5454.

Choose your topic and meeting time and we’ll get it on th books.

To comply with the U.S. Treasury regulations, we must inform you that (i) any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this newsletter was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any person for the purpose of avoiding U.S. federal tax penalties that may be imposed on such person and (ii) each taxpayer should seek advice from their tax advisor based on the taxpayer’s particular circumstances.

Nothing in this message is intended to provide legal advice.  This message is for educational purposes only.

Posted in Caregiving, Long-Term Care Planning

Post navigation

New Service Helps Seniors Keep Up with Bills
Technology Helps Seniors Age in Place

Categories

Archives

  Thank you for Signing Up

Join Our Newsletter

Please complete this form to create an account, receive email updates and much more.
  Please correct the marked field(s) below.
Contact Email  *
1,true,6,Contact Email,2
First Name 
1,false,1,First Name,2
Last Name 
1,false,1,Last Name,2
*Required Fields

Get In Touch

“We believe that your call should be returned within 24 hours.”


800 N. Industrial Blvd., Suite 106
Euless, TX 76039

Phone: 682.428.3046
Email: info@abonelaw.com
Driving Directions:

While my address is Industrial Blvd, we are actually on Clinic Drive. Look for the tall red Super Value Pharmacy sign. Whether coming from the North or the South, you will turn off of Industrial Blvd. onto Clinic Dr. Our building is located up the hill just past the Super Value Pharmacy at the far end of the building.

Office Hours

Mon-Thurs 8:30am-5:00pm
Fri/Sat/Sun Closed
Leave A Review
© 2023 The Law Office of Antoinette Bone, PLLC | A Website Design by Ahrens Technologies

DISCLAIMER: Material presented on The Law Offices of Antoinette Bone, PLLC website is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended as professsional advice and should not be construed as such. If you communicate with us through this site or otherwise in connection with a matter for which we do not already represent you, your communication may not be treated as privileged or confidential and does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and the firm. If you communicate with us by e-mail in connection with a matter for which we already represent you, please remember that Internet e-mail is not secure and you should avoid sending sensitive or confidential Internet e-mail messages unless they are adequately encrypted.