About a year and a half ago, the New York Times ran an article about a new crop of nursing homes that have recently appeared and which aims to meet the needs specific to the new generation of seniors. With its typical sarcastic relish, the Times explained how Baby Boomers are not content to spend their days playing bingo and shuffleboard, as their parents did at that age; they want something edgier and more intellectual, even as their physical and mental faculties fade.
The purpose of the article was probably to make Millennials, who will probably never be able to afford to retire, laugh cynically as they ride the subway from their second job to their third job, but it failed to address a serious issue, namely, how do you find a nursing home that will provide adequate care if you suffer from memory loss? If your family member’s health is getting worse in a nursing home, and you think that this deterioration is not simply due to the natural progression of Alzheimer’s disease, contact a New York nursing home lawyer.
New York City is an Alzheimer’s Disease Hot Zone
The current issue of the scientific journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia includes a study by a team of researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago on the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease among elderly people in the United States. Nationwide, the total prevalence of diagnosed cases of Alzheimer’s is one out of 10 adults aged 65 and older, although this figure does not include undiagnosed cases, which are thought to be many. The prevalence is highest in urban areas on the East Coast and in the South. Bronx County, New York, has the third highest prevalence of the disease anywhere in the United States. More than one out of every eight seniors in the Bronx has Alzheimer’s disease. The disease is about twice as prevalent in Black and Latino seniors as in White seniors.
What to Look for in a Memory Care Facility
Although research on treatments for Alzheimer’s disease is ongoing, the possibility remains that it can happen to anyone, including you. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease require varying levels of supervision to keep them safe. Some assisted living facilities and nursing homes have areas specifically designed to protect the physical safety and emotional well-being of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Even if the nursing home where your family member resides does not include a memory care unit, the nursing home staff should assess the needs of each patient and provide the services that the patient needs while enabling each resident to maintain as much independence as possible.
Contact Leitner Varughese Warywoda PLLC About Nursing Home Neglect Cases
A nursing home lawyer can help you if you are concerned that a family member of yours with Alzheimer’s disease is not receiving adequate care in a nursing home. Contact Leitner Varughese Warywoda PLLC in Brooklyn, New York, or call (212)671-1110 to discuss your case.