Neglect in a Nursing Home: 5 Ways to Recognize Elder Abuse

Nursing home neglect is a common issue faced by many loving family members of the elderly across the United States. While most nursing homes and their subsequent employees do the best they can to provide exceptional care, some facilities fall severely short of taking care of their elderly patients. The following five signs will help you determine whether or not your loved one is a victim of elder abuse and neglect: Noticeable and Excessive Bruising It's a well-known fact that elderly individuals occasionally fall down and have accidents. Bruising is common with this incidents, but excessive bruising with no documentation of slip and fall accidents might be a sign of elder abuse. If you notice something out of place, inspect your loved one more thoroughly. Signs for abuse can be easily detected if you look for large bruising patterns that can't be explained by a simple slip and fall incident or bruises in locations other than the extremities. Psychological Abuse: New Phobias The mental state of elderly patients fluctuates and changes in phobias are not always tell-tale signs of abuse. However, if you find that your loved one has become overwhelmed with fear of a particular person or object in the room, or becomes fixated on a particular time of day and refuses to see anyone, an attorney from places like Bachus & Schanker Law can help you determine if they might be suffering from a form psychological abuse. The best way to determine whether or not you have a psychological case is to consult with an experienced lawyer immediately. Excessive Weight Loss Weight loss is a great way to tell whether or not your loved one is being abused in a nursing home. If you know for sure that he or she hasn't suffered from any physical illness or injury, a lack of food is likely the cause for weight loss. Determine if this is true by approaching the nursing staff immediately. They should always keep an accurate record of what your loved one has eaten and what medication they took at all times. Physical Assault Detection Beyond the ability to inspect bruises on your loved one, you should be sensitive to how they react when you or staff members touch them. Physical abuse might take place when one of the nursing staff becomes irritated with the patient. If your elderly loved one has been physically assaulted, he or she might wince or pull away when someone tries to touch them. If this happens, ask your elderly family member if anyone has hurt them in the past. Lack of Showers and Proper Body Dressing Cleanliness is essential to the well-being of your elderly loved one. If you notice a significant increase in body odor or detect the scent of feces, you must address this immediately. Ask the staff about the diaper changing and shower routine. They should be bathed on a regular basis, and nursing aides should be changing their diapers on an as-needed basis. Nursing home neglect can appear in many forms. If you have any inclination that your loved one is suffering, contact an attorney and law enforcement immediately to help you investigate the situation further.