It is something none of us like to hear about, but it does happen -- nursing home abuse. We want our senior citizens to be well cared for, after all we all have parents and grandparents that may well end up in this type of facility because that’s all that is available to them. In the past, families would have multi-generations living under the same roof, and now this is simply not the case. Many families simply do not have the room, nor do they have the financial resources to care for their aging loved ones. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse occurs in all types of facilities, and is not restricted to those for the poor, or that accept Medicaid and Medicare patients. Some of the most prominent affluent facilities in the country have had reported cases of nursing home abuse, and of course, this is not something that they care to publicize, but it does happen.
There are many online sites that you can visit that can alert you to the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect. According to the Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Resource Center, abuse can include emotional, physical, and verbal abuse, as well as other warning signs that may signify that abuse is imminent. Physical abuse can include many instances, such as, chemical or physical restraints, which may not be warranted. Chemical restraints are usually used when a patient is non-compliant or is demonstrating or threatening harm to him or herself or others. A chemical restraint can only be obtained under these circumstances, and cannot be used just to keep a patient quiet so that they are not a ‘nuisance’.
Other signs of physical abuse may be in the case of required medications not being given, or medications given in excess, physical or sexual abuse, failure by staff to hydrate or offer nutrition, visible wounds, cuts, bruises, welts, or any other unexplained injuries, or reports by the person of hitting , slapping, pushing, shoving, or by ignoring repeated legitimate requests by the client. Signs of nursing home abuse in the form of neglect include not keeping the client safe from harm, not taking measures necessary to prevent infection or decubitus ulcers (bed sores), subjecting client to unclean or unsanitary conditions, allowing client to soil him or herself with urine or feces without taking measures to keep client clean, or not providing necessary and adequate medical care to patient. Patients are also considered neglected if not provided with the necessities of daily living, which can include social interaction, compassion, or assistance with any other necessary need.
If you have a loved one in any long term care facility, be sure to check out their credentials, and just take a general look around. If the residents don’t seem too happy, they are probably not being cared for properly. Talk to people, ask questions. Would you want your loved one in a facility that would abuse or neglect them in any way? I don’t think so.