Nursing home quality of care is essential if you have any family members living in such a facility. Any indication of abuse, neglect or low standards of living conditions need to be reported immediately.Before Admission Before considering any facility for a loved one, you must check the place out thoroughly. Contact the local health department as well as law enforcement to see if any complaints have been issued. Ask questions about the employment procedures including background checks?that they perform before hiring the people that will be taking care of your family member or friend. AVisitingDuring your loved one’s stay, stay on top of the quality of care in nursing homes by visiting frequently. Watch for any signs of the patient not being cared for properly. (See resource section below for signs.) If you suspect anything, it is better to be safe than sorry, ask questions and contact the authorities if not satisfied with the answers.PreventionPeriodically check with the local health and police departments that you first contacted when checking the place out to make sure that no new issues arise. Ask to be notified if at all possible if they do. Everything is public record when it comes to these kinds of facilities.ConsiderationsNot all complaints are founded or all health department citations necessarily an indication that you should pull your loved one out. Finding out all the facts will help you determine what you should do.WarningWhen unsure about abuse affecting the quality of care in nursing homes, make sure to follow your instinct. If your loved one is injured in any way, ask to see the accident report as well as talk to those involved in writing it. If you suspect anything, file a report for further investigation.