Joye Law Firm

When you move into your first apartment or into the home you saved up years to buy, there’s a sense of excitement. You can’t wait to get in, make it yours and call the place a home. Unfortunately, not many senior citizens have that same sense of excitement when it comes time to move into a nursing home. They are facing their golden years and, in some cases might not be in the best of health. Helping them to adapt to this new phase of life is vitally important to a successful transition.

When a loved one moves into a nursing home, you want to make sure that they are healthy and thriving in their new environment. To do so, they need to receive good care from the staff, but they also have to take good care of themselves, otherwise known as self-care. Self-care is any activity that takes care of your mental, emotional, and physical health.

Throughout your life, you’ve taken sufficient time choosing the right apartment to live in or the right house to buy. Now, as a caretaker, it’s time to choose the right nursing home so that your loved one is happy, comfortable and well taken care of in their golden years. What do you look for to help you to make that decision?

On the popular sitcom "The Golden Girls," it was a running joke for Dorothy to tease her 80-plus-year-old mother Sophia about putting her in a nursing home. We'd often hear Dorothy threaten Sophia with, "Shady Pines, Ma!"

If you have a loved one in or going to a nursing home, the transition can sometimes be a difficult one. They may feel alone and miss their family and friends as well as the comforts of their previous life. There are several things you can do to help your loved one get accustomed to, and even come to enjoy, their life in their new surroundings.

At the end of May, a caretaker for the late comic book creator Stan Lee was arrested on elder abuse charges. As shocking as the news was to his fans and the world at large, Lee isn’t alone. As many as 1 in 10 older Americans are abused or neglected each year at home, in a hospital, or in a nursing home facility and only 1 in 14 cases ever make it to authorities.

It’s tough to put a loved one’s care in someone else’s hands. But it’s often necessary when a spouse, parent or other family member faces a health challenge, such as a physical disability, stroke or Alzheimer’s disease. Many families do their best to select the most reputable nursing home they can find. They visit facilities, ask questions and check references.

Entrusting the care of your loved one to people you don’t know can be stressful. But, when you find the right nursing home or assisted-care facility, it can make all the difference. You know your family member is receiving the very best care and attention from qualified professionals.

Older adults are among the most vulnerable in our society. They often rely on others for their medical care, meals, daily care and financial decisions. Family members often put the care of their older loved ones in the hands of nursing homes, fully expecting these facilities and the people who work there to treat their parents or spouses with respect and dignity.

Motorcycles are a symbol of good times – traveling the highway and byways with the wind in your face and the open road before you. Motorcycle enthusiasts gather for weekend trips through the mountains and to the beaches, making memories and forging lasting friendships.

Choosing to move a spouse, parent or other loved one into a nursing home is never an easy decision. You do your research, visit the facility and feel confident you’ve made the right choice. The prospect of physical or emotional abuse is far from your mind. Unfortunately, elder abuse in nursing homes does occur – sometimes at the hands of staff and sometimes at the hands of other residents.

Any big decision requires research and careful consideration. Selecting a nursing home for your parent, spouse or loved one is no exception. It’s hard enough to recognize a family member needs more care than you can provide at home. So it’s important to vet a few facilities, ask questions and take tours so you can make the very best decision possible.

One way to make a family member’s transition to nursing home living a little easier is with frequent visits. This will reassure your loved one that she’s not forgotten or abandoned. Beyond simply stopping by for a quick hello, put together a plan for a successful visitation schedule that allows you to carefully monitor your loved one’s wellbeing – physical, emotional and social. Here are 5 tips for creating a … Read More