By Mashum Mollah
When you make the difficult decision to move a loved one into a nursing home, you trust that the people caring for him or her will do a good job. After all, the nursing home hired them, so they must be capable and have the proper skills and training, right?
Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Sometimes, nursing homes and their employees do not have the proper skills, training, or supervision. This leads to nursing home neglect. So what can you do? How do you protect your loved one? Awareness is one of the most important ways that you can protect your loved one. Be aware that nursing home neglect exists, and know the signs so you can take action quickly.
Put together by a Douglasville nursing home injury lawyer, here are some signs of nursing home neglect you shouldn’t ignore.
Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
There is more than one type of nursing home neglect, so you should be aware of the signs of each type:
Medical Neglect
If you notice any of the following, your loved one may be experiencing medical neglect:
If you have your loved ones admitted to a nursing home, then take note of their well-being and surroundings. When you visit the nursing home, you can check them for physical injuries like bedsores, scars, and bruising. These physical injuries are noticeable and can be seen through the naked eye.
Additionally, you can look for unexplained broken bones or dislocations and ask them about any pain they might be feeling. So, you can take quick action to decrease their discomfort and pain.
Furthermore, you can take note of these physical injuries listed below:
- Infections
- Unexplained weight loss
- Untreated medical conditions
- Overmedication
- Anemia
You can ask your loved ones about their condition and daily activities and detect these physical injuries. In conversation, sometimes the truth comes out.
Furthermore, some seniors try to hide their injuries and abuse because they don’t want to burden their children. So, you can look for hints if they do not wish to discuss their daily life.
Neglect of Basic Needs
Neglect of basic needs is one of the most tragic types of nursing home neglect. If you feel that your loved one’s basic needs are not taken care of, then you can charge the nursing home for neglect.
Remember that it’s mandatory for nursing homes to provide their patients with all the necessary basic needs they require. Be aware of the following signs that your loved one is being denied:
- Food
- Water
- A safe place to call their own
- A clean general environment
- Comfort
- Personal care
Additionally, you must look for the cleanliness of the facility and plumbing. If you find rodents running around the nursing home or pests, take the information to the management.
Furthermore, you can see if the facility bathroom is clean and there is running water. This helps you ensure that the facility provides water for personal hygiene. Then, take note of the temperature inside the nursing facility to see if it is comfortable for seniors.
Neglect of Personal Hygiene
Nursing home residents often need assistance with personal hygiene. If you feel that your loved ones are being neglected, then take note of these signs. Your loved ones are neglected if they are not receiving assistance with the following:
- Cleaning
- Bathing
- Caring for teeth and oral hygiene
- Laundry
- Dressing appropriately for the season
- Maintaining clean and healthy skin
- Maintaining a clean and sanitary bathroom
Additionally, take note of electrical wiring, lack of running water, fire hazards, and their dressing. Seniors are more prone to feel cold than others when temperatures are maintained.
If this case occurs, the nursing home should provide proper dressing or bedding to keep the patient warm. So, if there is a lack of bedding and heat, the facility neglects its service and personal hygiene.
Social or Emotional Neglect
As human beings, we all need socialization and experiences that bring us emotional joy and wellbeing. Sadly, one type of nursing home neglect is neglect of social or emotional needs. This includes:
- Being left alone for long periods of time
- Being treated unkindly by nursing home staff
- Being ignored by staff
- Staff responding angrily, yelling or belittling the resident
- A lack of social activities
- A general lack of emotional care from staff
What to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect is a tragic reality for thousands of nursing home residents. As you can see, there are numerous ways that nursing home residents may be neglected by nursing home staff and other caregivers.
Fortunately, as a family member, there are some things that you can do if you suspect nursing home neglect. This includes:
- Firstly, you can visit the nursing home regularly.
- Additionally, voice your concerns to staff if you notice something “off.”
- Furthermore, if the staff ignores your concerns, talk to an administrator.
- Lastly, contact Adult Protective Services (APS) or your local long-term care ombudsman for help if the nursing home does not address your concerns.
Additionally, if you suspect nursing home neglect, you may also find it helpful to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer. A nursing home abuse lawyer is a lawyer who has specialized skills and experience related to nursing homes.
Furthermore, your nursing home abuse lawyer is knowledgeable in resident rights in nursing homes and knows how to ensure residents’ safety.
Besides, nursing home neglect falls under the umbrella of personal injury law, so a nursing home abuse lawyer will be well-versed in applicable state laws relating to personal injury cases. This is a valuable means of support if you are concerned about abuse or neglect.
Conclusion
Now that you know some of the signs of neglect, you can look for them to find out if your loved ones are being neglected. It is your right to ask for the best treatment at the nursing home because you are paying for it.
Furthermore, the nursing home is useless if they fail to take care of their patient. After all, their business follows the motto of providing the best care for their patients. So, they should be questioned about their neglectful actions to get the right treatment.
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