When an individual enters a nursing home, family members must remain vigilant and check on their health, wellbeing, and happiness often. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse does happen. Loved ones of elderly nursing home residents need to be aware of the signs of abuse so they can take action to protect their loved ones and hold the right parties accountable.
Reasons Nursing Home Abuse Occurs
Nursing home abuse happens for two main reasons. One of the primary reasons is understaffing. When a nursing home is low on staff members, staff end up taking on way too much work, which puts them under a strain. Individuals need to be aware of the signs of nursing home abuse, especially when there is a staffing shortage.
Another common reason for nursing home abuse and neglect is improper training. Working with the disabled and elderly takes special training. If staff members are not trained properly, this abuse is more likely to occur.
Finally, nursing home abuse also happens when staff members have not been properly vetted. Extensive background checks must be carried out to ensure the staff will offer expert, safe, and compassionate care to the disabled and elderly.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Multiple signs will alert a person there is nursing home abuse. If a person notices any of the following with their elderly loved one, it is important to take action right away. Nursing home neglect should never be ignored because serious ramifications can result.
- The elderly person may experience multiple falls.
- Individuals may have strange sores or bruises in their genital areas.
- Unexplained injuries are common when elder abuse is occurring.
- The elderly person may be scared of certain residents or staff members.
- The elderly may also begin to develop signs of depression or anxiety.
- Frequent illnesses and infections may also occur while a person is being abused.
- Injured seniors may also have poor hygiene in an abusive nursing home.
- Individuals need to look for untreated bedsores in the elderly.
What Should Be Done When Elder Abuse Is Found?
It is important to take immediate action when nursing home abuse is occurring. Reporting the abuse right away will help to prevent further damages.
Family members will need to talk to the police and file a report right away against the nursing home. If the elder is still residing in the nursing home, family members should consider relocating them right away.
An elder should never be left in an abusive situation. The abuse should never be allowed to continue or it could worsen in severity.
Schedule a Consultation Meeting
After contacting the authorities, individuals next need to consider meeting with a nursing home abuse lawyer. Once a lawyer is hired, they will go to work on investigating the abuse claims right away. The lawyer will gather evidence that can be used to prove the abuse occurred.
Lawyers become advocates for their injured clients. When the lawyer is hired, they take over the entire process of pursuing the nursing home and at-fault parties. Hiring a lawyer offers great peace of mind for families of abused seniors.
Take Action Immediately
One of the biggest mistakes family can make when a loved one is in a nursing home is to stop checking on them. Nursing home neglect is running rampant. Taking immediate action will help to protect an elderly victim from further abuse.
