Deciding to place a loved one in a nursing home is never easy. Many families, faced with increasing medical and emotional costs however, are forced to make this decision every day. Special care and attention is paid to ensure your grandparents or parents are placed in an assisted living facility that is clean, well staffed, and safe, but this same care may not be utilized by the nursing home itself. All it takes is one negligent or abusive employee for the place you trusted to tend to your loved one to become a living nightmare.
Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse
Accidents may be more common in a nursing home, where elderly patients are less cognizant of their surroundings and generally frailer than they were in their younger years. A good nursing home will have safety measures in place to greatly reduce the instances of these accidents, but safety measures are only effective if they are followed by staff and employees.
In addition to not following safety regulations, some employees of nursing homes can be abusive. Common types of nursing home abuse include:
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Financial exploitation
There was a time when these abuses were so uncommon, so unheard of, that they resonated with shock and scandal. Unfortunately, in our modern times, these abuses are not only prevalent, they are terribly common.
How to Avoid Nursing Home Abuse
The best way to avoid nursing home abuse is by thoroughly researching the nursing homes available in your area. You will want to:
• Find a facility that is fully equipped to deal with your loved one's needs
• Interview the staff and doctors to ensure you feel safe with them
• Tour the facility, taking time to talk to the residents, and view the amenities
• Ask other resident's family members how they like the facility
• Check the facility's history and rating online
Once you have chosen a home for your loved one, you will want to make sure to: • Visit frequently and unannounced
• Listen to any complaints your loved one has
• Check your loved one for visible signs of physical abuse
• Pay attention to any signs of emotional distress
If you suspect a problem, or your loved one seems unhappy, make sure to report the problem to senior staff at the nursing home. If the problem persists, you will want to remove your loved one from the facility, and look at hiring a personal injury lawyer to seek compensation for your loved one's losses and suffering.
