What Steps Can I Take to Protect My Loved One from Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?

 Posted on March 26, 2020 in Nursing Home Abuse

The statistics regarding nursing home abuse and neglect are extremely disheartening. In one study, nearly 25 percent of nursing home residents reported that they had suffered one or more incidents of physical abuse at the hands of nursing home staff. In addition to physical abuse, residents may be mocked, internationally frightened, and otherwise emotionally abused. Financial abuse, also called elder financial exploitation, is also a problem in many nursing homes. Even if nursing home staff do not intentionally harm residents, understaffed facilities and lack of appropriate staff training can lead residents to be dangerously neglected.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home, you may be especially concerned about their safety during this tumultuous time. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to minimize your loved one’s changes of experiencing nursing home neglect or abuse.

Research Nursing Home Facilities Thoroughly

Oftentimes, a nursing home facility will look perfect on the outside but is actually quite inadequate on the inside. If you are considering placing a loved one in a nursing home, make sure to thoroughly research your options. Simply reading a brochure will not tell you everything you need to know about the facility. The Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicare issue ratings on the quality of nursing homes, but even these ratings may be skewed. The best way to find out about a nursing home facility is to visit the facility and talk to staff. If possible, it may also be a good idea to speak with other families with loved ones staying in the nursing home.

Visit as Often as You Can

Understandably, it can be extremely emotionally taxing to visit a loved one in a nursing home. This is especially true if your loved one has dementia or cannot communicate with you. However, frequent visits will be very helpful in establishing your presence in the facility. Make sure to introduce yourself to nursing home staff and monitor how the staff interact with your loved one during your visit. Visiting your loved one frequently also allows you to check your loved one for physical and mental changes that may indicate that something is wrong.

Contact a Cook County Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer

At Schwartz Injury Law, we are dedicated to protecting elderly and disabled people living in nursing homes. If you have reason to suspect that your loved one has been abused or neglected while living in a nursing home, contact Schwartz Injury Law for help. Schedule a free consultation with a skilled Chicago nursing home neglect and abuse attorney by calling us at 312-535-4625 today.

Source:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22206513