While these new guidelines will hopefully help improve patient outcomes in the future, not all of the guidelines are mandatory, and they will not apply to all nursing homes nationwide. Family members of current or future nursing home residents should understand that the issuance of these guidelines demonstrates an ongoing problem in the nursing home industry, and extra care should be taken when choosing a facility for a loved one. For families with a loved one who is currently undergoing abuse or neglect at a nursing home, there is recourse available.