Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect – It’s Chilling
We protect our children like fierce mama bears, but when it comes to protecting our elderly loved ones, we sometimes miss the ball. I know that many times, these elder family members are our parents – and we will always see our parents as strong and capable of taking care of themselves.
Sadly, as these loved ones age, they are just about as helpless as our children. When elderly citizens are placed in a nursing home, there is a huge chance of abuse and neglect in the nursing home setting.
The statistics of nursing home abuse are staggering…. and for those considering a nursing home for someone they love, these statistics are down-right CHILLING.
That’s what we’d like to talk about – Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect…. and what you can do about it.
We’ll get all in to that as this site develops, but if you are wondering right now what you can do to help protect your elderly loved one and have “eyes” on them in the nursing home when you can’t be there…
How to Detect and Prevent Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Nursing home abuse and neglect is a very sensitive issue especially if we’re talking about our loved ones here. I can never imagine anybody maltreating my mother! We can’t be there for our parents 24/7 which is why it’s mandatory that you know how to detect signs of nursing home abuse and neglect
As elders become more physically vulnerable, they are less able to stand up against bullying and abuse. They may not see, hear and think as clearly as they used to and this leaves an opening for ruthless people to take advantage of them. Abuse in its context does not only refer to physical harm, it can also involve emotional and sexual abuse. In addition to that, neglect or abandonment and financial exploitation can also be considered as a form of cruelty.
Did you know that tens of thousands of seniors across the United States experience a form of abuse? Yes they are being harmed in a significant way, often by people who are responsible for their care. If you think nursing home abuse and neglect cannot happen to your elderly just because you are paying huge bucks then maybe it’s time for you to open up your eyes to reality. More than half a million reports of abuse reach authorities every year. Those are the only reported cases, it may surprise you but millions more cases remain unreported.
How do you detect nursing home abuse and neglect? What signs are you supposed to pay attention to?
1.) Unexplained signs of injury like bruises, scratches, scars or welts.
2.) Broken bones, sprains or dislocations
3.) Broken eyeglasses or frames
4.) Drug overdose or evident failure to take medication
5.) Signs of being restrained like rope marks on wrists
6.) Caregiver refuses to let the elder see you alone
7.) Behavior from the elder that imitates dementia like sucking, rocking or mumbling to oneself
8.) Unexplained weight loss, malnutrition and dehydration
9.) Untreated physical problems like bed sores
10.) Being left dirty or unbathed, dirty finger nails, hair looks greasy
11.) Unsanitary living conditions
12.) Unsuitable clothing for the weather
While it may be true that caring for an elderly person is such a huge responsibility, the stress can lead to mental and physical health problems that push caregivers to be burned out and be impatient, nursing home abuse and neglect should never be justified nor tolerated.
Preventing nursing home abuse and neglect may be difficult but it is necessary. We can definitely help reduce the incidence of elder abuse by exerting more effort than we are making now. First, you have to listen to both the elder and the caregiver and try to be sensitive to both of their needs. Second, you have to intervene when you see signs of abuse and neglect. Know how to report such incidents. Different states have different rules when it comes to who is required to report suspected nursing home abuse and neglect, there is really no federal standard although the categories of mandatory reporters are starting to expand. Third, you have to educate others on how to recognize and report elder abuse. There’s no better way of preventing such incident than spreading the awareness.