What can I do to ensure that my parent's rights are protected from the nursing home?

Good luck. Even with name tags, it's impossible to have everything replaced. I think it's the caliber of care.

Be very firm and ever present. An adult child who is constantly visiting (at unexpected hours) is one of the best deterents of poor care.

I am not sure of your dad's status, is he in a nursing home now? However, if you think the diagnosis isn't correct regarding his mental state, get a second opinon. Always remember most medical staff is under 40 yrs old. They fail to understand the elderly and they then to have no patience when speaking with them. If an elder can't immediately respond to a question, they fire off another question which stops the first response the elder was formulating in their brain. Now the elder looks confused. So they continue with the same question and the elder tends to shut down. When this happens with you people they are not labeled a dementia person but the elderly get that label hung on them very very quickly and society approves of it. Get a second opinion if people are calling your dad incompetent. Try to find the rare medical profession who actually understands and respects elderly people. Then you will get a trustworthy assessment. Good Luck I found a few such medical staff but they are rare.

Elizabeth

Contact the ombudsman at the facility to discuss. Their job is to advocate for the resident.

I'm not sure either exactly what luvpeople is asking. I know mom has always had to wear a bracelet that goes off if she tries to get out of the NH on her own. It's a GOOD thing because she never knows where she is or sometimes WHO she is. But APS has nothing to do with it..it is nursing home policy for wanders.

Do you mean that if he is diagnosed with Alzheimer's that the NH will take steps to prevent him from wandering? I'm not clear on what you are asking, or why APS would be involved. Is he in an NH now?

Please provide a few more details.