Nursing Home Abuse
At Hach & Rose, we take nursing home abuse seriously. We consider it to be one of the most reprehensible and preventable failings of our elder care system. The decision to place a loved one in a nursing home is one of the most daunting decisions a family has to make. The primary concern is to make sure the needs of your loved one are attended to with care, skill and respect. While there are many outstanding facilities, the risk of deficient care is very real.
The National Center on Elder Abuse estimates at least one in 20 nursing home patients has been the victim of negligence and or abuse, though it concedes that the number is probably higher. According to the National Center’s study, 57 percent of nurses aides in long-term care facilities admitted to having witnessed or participated in acts of negligence and abuse. Even when the consequences are not fatal, nursing home negligence robs victims of a their dignity and sense of security. If you are looking for information or resources to help decide whether to place a loved one in a nursing home facility, the Internet can be a great source of information.
Simple steps to finding the proper nursing home.
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Compile a list of potential nursing homes within traveling distance.
- Speak to friends, neighbors, senior groups, and social groups about potential facilities
- Check the Medicare and Medicaid website for a list of certified nursing facilities
- Determine the facility’s proximity to family members and friends so that visits can be as frequent as possible
- Make an unannounced visit to the facility to determine the general feel of the place. Ask questions:
- Is the atmosphere friendly?
- How does the staff treat residents?
- Is the facility clean?
- How is the temperature?
- How is the food?
- What steps are taken in the event of a medical emergency?
- Are there trained medical professionals on staff?
- Where is the nearest hospital to the facility?
- After the unscheduled walk-through, set up an appointment with the facility's administrator to ask questions regarding visitation, meals, hiring practices, and staff requirements.
- Finally, try to determine the overall quality of life of the residents. Does the facility provide social events? Opportunities to interact with friends and other residents?
Continue to Be Aware Once Your Loved One has Entered a Facility
Once you have chosen a facility for your loved one, you should be aware of signs of abuse. Signs of nursing home abuse include:
- Physical neglect, including bedsores, may indicate the nursing home staff fails to provide residents with the necessities of daily living
- Residents who suffer from frequent falls, which can indicate that they may not be receiving adequate oversight from the nursing home staff, or they may be victims of poorly maintained equipment or facilities
- Withdrawal or isolation can be a sign that staff is failing to provide a nursing home resident with adequate assistance or attention.
- Frequent infections could mean that nursing home staff is failing to follow proper hand washing techniques.
If you feel a loved one has been subject to abuse or neglect at the hands of a nursing or elder care facility staff, contact Hach & Rose online or call 866-LAWS-USA. We believe very strongly that our seniors should be treated with dignity and respect and WE will fight to ensure they receive such care.
