One of the most difficult experiences in life is when a loved one can no longer live at home. You painstakingly try to find the right place to provide the right care.

More than 1.4 million families in the U.S. face the reality of a loved one in a nursing home. More than 69% of those homes are for-profit organizations. You may worry their main focus is profits and not care. This means you need to be even more proactive in protecting your loved one from all types of abuse in nursing homes.

So what happens when your loved one receives less than stellar care?

When does focusing on profits, understaffing and occasional accidents cross the line into abuse?

How can you tell if your loved one is in danger? When is it time to get an expert lawyer in nursing home abuse?

Keep reading to learn more about the types of abuse in nursing homes, the signs of abuse to look for and what to if you believe your loved one is being abused.

Let’s get started!

Choosing the Right Nursing Home

You want your loved one cared for the same way you’d care for them but it’s hard to know how to find that in a nursing home. There are some things you can look for and questions you can ask to help you narrow down the options and alert you to concerns in potential homes.

See It with Your Own Eyes

It’s essential to tour the place that you’re considering. Walk through the halls, see the room they’d be living in. Watch how the staff interact with each other and with the clients.

  • Is the home clean? Does it smell clean?
  • Do residents look well cared for?
  • Are they treated with respect when engaged by staff?
  • Visit during mealtime to see what is on the menu and the atmosphere for residents

Consider your loved one and the facility you’re touring. You need to trust the staff and be comfortable with your loved one living there.

Learn About the Care Team

Knowing how care is offered and who is on the team gives you a good indication of the priority a nursing home puts on actual care and not just profit.

Ask for detailed information on the staff to resident ratios, short staff, and emergency policies.

Other questions you will want to ask include:

  • Are the staff trained?
  • What is the ratio of nursing staff to untrained staff?
  • What background checks and screening process is in place for staff?
  • Who are the members of a care team? Does it include an in-house doctor?
  • Are there mental health professionals or dementia specialists?
  • Are there therapy programs and professional staff for recreational, physical or occupational therapy?

You’ll want to learn about training and continuing education the facility offers to staff.

Talk to the staff that works there and search online for reviews from staff and residents. If employees are unhappy, you don’t want them taking it out on your loved one.

What Do They Offer?

You don’t want your loved one to be another thing on the To-Do list of an overworked and underpaid untrained caregiver who sits them in front of a muted television set all day.

You want them to meet your loved one’s needs and provide activities, therapy, care, and entertainment so they have the best quality of life possible every day.

Read Their Policies

The more you know the better off you are!

You need to know what safeguards the nursing home has in place to provide the best care possible for your loved one.

You’ll want to know their official policy on issues such as:

  • minimum care time per day/per client
  • suspected abuse
  • employee discipline
  • outbreaks
  • financial statements
  • emergencies and natural disasters
  • medical care

It’s important for your peace of mind and your loved one’s safety that the facility has a plan in place and a policy for all staff to follow in any situation that may arise. This also gives you recourse when a policy isn’t followed.

Take the advice of every tv court judge from Marilyn Milan to Judge Judy and make sure you get everything in writing! Request a copy of their policies on emergencies, resident rights, reports of abuse and complaints in writing so you can refer to them if needed.

Types of Abuse in Nursing Homes

There are several different actions or lack of action that constitutes abuse. We’ll discuss what the different types of abuse in nursing homes are and how to recognize red flags that abuse may be happening to an elderly loved one.

Neglect

Neglect is a common form of abuse in nursing homes as the administration tries to save a few dollars and work with the minimum staff possible. The fewer staff work on a floor, the more likely neglect will happen.

Neglect is just as it sounds. It is neglecting to provide proper care and the necessities of life to someone. Actions that may be considered neglect could include but not be limited to:

  • failure to provide proper personal care
  • lack of hygiene
  • failure to provide proper nutrition
  • neglecting to give medication or necessities of life when needed
  • formation of bed sores or preventable injury or illness due to lack of care
  • unnecessary use of physical or medical restraint
  • signs of malnutrition and dehydration

If your loved one can’t communicate to tell you they’re being neglected you will need to watch for signs of neglect. These may include bedsores, dirty or soiled clothing, unkempt and unwashed hair, dirty linens and persistent strong odors.

Visit your loved ones on different days of the week at varying times so that you know care is not being provided just before scheduled or planned visits. Check your loved one’s back, heels and other areas for bed sores or tender pressure points from extended periods in the same position.

If you suspect neglect be vigilant in seeking answers and advocating for proper care. Consult an experienced attorney that’s dealt with cases of abuse and neglect to know your rights.

Emotional or Verbal Abuse

The old saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me” has been proven completely wrong as the verbal and emotional abuse have been researched and the long term effects noted. Emotional abuse can have long-lasting and devastating effects on one’s quality of life and sense of wellbeing.

It is a serious problem that becomes even more prevalent when Alzheimer’s or dementia is part of the reason for care. One study showed more than 60% of caregivers have verbally or emotionally abused someone in their care at some point. Whether it’s a moment of stressed out weakness or a common occurrence it is never acceptable.

Emotional abuse may include:

  • verbal and non-verbal intimidation or humiliation
  • verbal attacks, threats, insults
  • withdrawal of care, attention or affection
  • isolation
  • constant criticism, complaining, shaming
  • belittling
  • punishing

Psychological abuse can cause the victim to feel scared, to withdraw or act out if they’re unable to communicate their fears. You may notice changes in a loved one’s mood, eating and sleeping habits and behavior as a result.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is the physical use of force or threats of physical violence including:

  • hitting or kicking,
  • shoving, hair pulling
  • spitting
  • unnecessary physical or medical restraint
  • physical intimidation
  • unnecessary physical force

Physical abuse can happen in nursing home situations at the hands of staff, visitors or other residents. Almost 25% of nursing home residents experience physical abuse at least once during their time in care.

Signs of physical abuse that you should look for:

  • unexplained bruises and injuries
  • unexplained pain
  • sleep or eating habit changes
  • withdrawal, changes in mood
  • fear or anxiety particularly near one or more specific individuals

If you are concerned about a loved one possibly being abused a “Granny cam law” was signed in 2018 by Governor John Edwards to help families protect their loved ones from abuse.

There are conditions that need to be met in order to use cameras but it has been made easier for families to have peace of mind and evidence that abuse is occurring. Consulting a lawyer about your rights is a good idea if you have any concerns about what you can or cannot do.

Sexual Abuse

Any physical, verbal or non-verbal manipulation, intimidation or act that is performed for sexual purposes without consent. This includes situations where a person is not physically or mentally capable of giving consent.

  • manipulating or intimidating a resident to watch, witness or participate in sexual acts
  • forcing or manipulating someone into watching, participating in pornography
  • manipulating someone into removing their clothes or performing acts for a sexual purpose
  • physical touching for a sexual purpose

Sexual abuse may be at the hands of staff, visitors, or other residents.

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse is the most widespread and frequent form of abuse against the elderly. Often it occurs when elderly people are cared for at home but it does happen in nursing home environments as well.

Any use of the individual’s assets through intimidation or manipulation for reasons other than their well-being may be a form of financial abuse.

This may occur through:

  • loans,
  • unnecessary charges or overcharging for services or care,
  • manipulation into signing over funds or power of attorney

Always request a detailed and itemized bill or invoice for services and charges so that you can guard against this form of abuse.

Seek Professional Advice

Various types of abuse happen every day no matter how much you try to prevent it. The government believes 1 in 4 cases of abuse goes unreported.

If you are worried that your loved one is suffering from any one or more of these types of abuse in nursing homes contact us and start protecting them today.

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