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 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% of nurses’ aides in long-term care facilities admitted to having witnessed, and even participating in, acts of negligence and abuse. Even when the consequences are not fatal, nursing home negligence robs victims of a sense of security and their dignity. If you are looking for information or resources which may help in your decision to place a loved one in a proper facility, the world wide web can be a great source of information.

At the very least please take the time to adhere to a few simple steps outlined below:

Find A List of Potential Nursing Homes by:

1) Compiling a list of potential nursing homes within traveling distance;
2) Speak to friends, neighbors, senior groups, and social groups about potential facilities;
3) Check the Medicare and Medicaid website for a list of certified nursing facilities
4.) Determine the facility’s proximity to family members and friends so that visits can be as frequent as possible.
5.) Make an unannounced visit to the facility to determine the general ‘feel’ of the place. Ask, Is the atmosphere friendly? How does the staff treat residents? Is the facility clean? How is the temperature? How is the food?
6.) After the unscheduled walk-through, set up an appointment with the facilities administrator and ask questions regarding rights of residents regarding visitation, meals, hiring practices and requirements.
7.) Ask 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?
8.) Finally, try to determine the overall quality of life of the residents. Does to 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. One sign of nursing home abuse is physical neglect, when the nursing home staff fails to provide residents with the necessities of daily living. Other signs are 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. Also, frequent infections could mean that nursing home staff is failing to follow proper hand washing techniques.

If you or a loved one feels they have been subject to abuse or neglect at the hands of a nursing or elder care facility contact us. We believe very strongly that our seniors should be treated with dignity and respect and will fight to ensure they receive such care.