How to prevent nursing home abuse

Older adults have spent most of their own lives caring for themselves and others. As a result, it may be difficult for them to accept that they need help. This decision to get help often falls on the shoulders of loved ones and family members.

Taking steps to ensure that your elderly relative has the care they need is extremely important. Relocating them to a nursing home is one type of assistance. While nursing homes should provide high standards of care sometimes they do not. There are occasions where elderly adults can be let down or even subjected to abuse. Consequently, it is worth considering some ways that nursing home abuse might be prevented.

Being aware of the common signs

The starting point in preventing nursing home abuse is to know what to look out for. Warning signs that your elderly relative may have been abused can appear in both physical and behavioral forms. For example, they might look messier or more unkempt than usual. This could be a sign that the facility is neglecting the hygiene requirements of a person. Additionally, your loved one may display physical signs such as cuts or bruises, which could indicate physical abuse.

In terms of behavioral changes, if your family member becomes withdrawn or has trouble sleeping, this may also be a sign of nursing home abuse.

What can you do?

You can check for previous complaints that a nursing home has received before committing to a location. Nevertheless, there are ways for you to monitor nursing home procedures once your relative is residing there. By checking on the welfare of your relative regularly, you may be able to catch abuse before it escalates.

Older adults deserve to be treated with care and respect. If you are concerned about the treatment of a loved one in a nursing facility, you have legal options.