Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Facilities in Connecticut

What Kinds of Facilities are Offered for the Elderly?

Elderly people can live in many different facilities. They include nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult day care and memory care units. Home health aides may also work depending on if your loved one wishes to stay in their own home or not. The facilities mentioned above have staff available 24/7 to help your elder loved one. You can hire many home health aides to take shifts with your loved one around the clock.

How Much do Elderly Facilities Cost?

• Home health aide: anywhere from $10-$24 per hour.
• Nursing homes: $170-$205 per day or $5,400-$6,150 per month.
• Assisted living: around $3,823 per month.
• Adult day care: around $65 per day.
• Memory care unit: on average around $5,000 per month.

What Should I Look for When Visiting These Facilities?

Consider what your loved one needs or wants in a facility. Take into consideration if the home accommodates dietary restrictions and medication schedules. Also consider physical or mental limitations, and daily help that your loved one needs. Another thing to look for is if the home has any social events that the elderly may partake in. Your loved one might have interest in these events.

What Questions Should I Ask When Visiting a Potential Facility for a Loved One?

• May I review your latest monitoring report?
• Have you had any complaints recently about neglect or abuse towards residents?
• Are there specialized care units for people with diseases such as dementia?
• Do you offer transportation to doctor’s appointments and things of that nature?
• What kinds of rehabilitation services are available here?
• Will you take care of my loved one’s daily chores such as laundry, personal hygiene, and cleaning?
• What types of meals do you offer here?
• Will you be able to accommodate for the dietary restrictions of my loved one?
• What times and how many meals get served a day?
• Do you have any social activities that residents can partake in?
• What are your visiting hours?
• How many available beds do you currently have?
• What security measures do you have in place here to ensure that my loved one is safe?
• Do you allow residents to go outside?

What is Neglect?

Neglect occurs when the staff of a care facility fails to provide the basic needs of a resident. Those needs include personal hygiene, medicine, clothing, food, shelter, water, etc.

What is Abuse?

Abuse is any unwanted contact between a staff member and resident that may result in harm. There are many different forms of abuse. They include physical, mental, emotional, financial, and even medical errors.

What are Some Warning Signs of Neglect and Abuse?

• Bedsores.
• Confessions of neglect or abuse.
• Improper hygiene.
• Unexplained cuts, bruises, or injuries.
• Anxiety.
• Sudden changes in behavior, mood, or eating habits.
• Dehydration.
• Malnutrition.
• Unusual weight loss.
• Sudden changes to a Will, title, policy, or power of attorney.
• Missing money or possessions.
• Infections.
• Mood swings.

What Do I Do If I Suspect Elder Neglect and Abuse?

If you suspect that your elderly loved one is neglected or abused, report it immediately. Remove your loved one from that dangerous environment. You should also contact an attorney about what legal actions to take against the home.

Can You Prevent Elder Abuse?

Even if you do everything right in choosing a home or aide for your loved one, neglect or abuse could happen. Neglect and abuse can never be 100% prevented because you may not be able to be by your loved one’s side 24/7. To make sure your loved one gets taken care of, keep in contact with them during the duration of their stay. Also keep in contact with the nursing home staff. You may want to check in with them once a week or so to ensure that your loved one is getting the best treatment possible. This shows that you will not let neglect or abuse go unnoticed.