1 in 10 Americans that are 60 years old and up have and will suffer from some kind of elder abuse or neglect. Social isolation coupled with mental impairment conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s makes the elderly prime targets of nursing in home abuse.
Learn More About Nursing Home Abuse
When you think about it that way, the idea of putting your loved one into a nursing home can be a bit daunting. You don’t want them to be another statistic and they don’t have to be.
Signs of Nursing Abuse
If you notice the common signs of nursing home abuse you can stop the problem before it’s gotten too bad.
1. Physical Signs
One of the easiest ways to spot nursing abuse is to visit your loved one on a normal basis. If you notice any kind of cuts, welts, scrapes, marks, burns, signs of head injury, or broken bones, you’ll need to start getting to the bottom of it right away.
The caregiver may tell you that the resident did it to themselves but if you keep noticing a pattern, consult a nursing home abuse attorney right away.
2. Emotional Signs
Abuse doesn’t have to be physical for it to be counted as abuse. If your loved one is a little quieter than normal, are withdrawing a bit from you, seem scared or depressed, or makes up elaborate stories concerning physical injuries, these are all huge warning signs.
Even if they aren’t being emotionally abused they are obviously unhappy. Start thinking about alternate housing plans ASAP and get them out of the situation.
3. Financial Abuse
Believe it or not, your loved one can be financially abused while they are living in a nursing abuse. A crafty enough person can steal their identity or at least, forge your resident’s name on a piece of paper.
Have a family member keep an eye on your loved one’s assets. This way, if something goes missing, you’ll know.
4. General Neglect
Neglect and abuse are two different things. Nursing abuse is an intentional affliction of injury on a person. Neglect is when someone fails to provide another with the basic care that they need.
If your resident is covered with bedsores, are always in the bed when you visit, seem to be lacking hygiene, are a bit malnourished or dehydrated, living in unclean conditions, or aren’t being given the medications they need, they are being neglected.
5. Horrible Caretakers
Sometimes, rather than having your resident removed, it’s better to have bad employees removed.
If you notice or hear your loved one talk about caretakers who are aggressive, demeaning, won’t let residents talk to their family alone, or talk about the elderly as if they are a burden, it’s time to go to the higher-ups.
Common Signs of Nursing Abuse to Look Out For
Many seniors suffer from abuse and neglect while in a nursing in home abuse. That’s why it’s so important to research homes carefully before you place your loved one in their care and keep tabs on them by visiting them often. If you don’t you may not notice some of these common signs of nursing abuse.
Looking for more ways to protect and care for your elderly loved one? Visit our blog daily to read more web guides articles like this one.
