Nursing homes and assisted living services have been on the rise in the last couple of years. Although not an ideal solution and for some, most people have no choice when faced with an elderly loved one who can no longer function on their own. In such cases, nursing home is probably the best option as you put your faith in experts who are in charge of providing proper care for your family members.
Nursing homes in the US offer a wide range of services that are mandatory for a normal and healthy life. These services usually include hygiene, shelter, food, regular medical care and even fun activities and workshops.
The main advantage of sending your loved one to a nursing home is that they’ll have access to medical care 24/7 and you won’t have to worry about whether your family member is getting the assistance they need.
On top of that, most nursing homes understand the importance of keeping brain activity at a high level. That’s why different types of workshops and activities are organized, such as board game night, pottery classes and even moderate physical exercise.
However, in the last couple of years, namely during and after COVID, many instances of neglect and abuse have been reported. The rate is quite disturbing as no one wants their loved ones to be mistreated or abused, especially not when left in the hands of trusted professionals.
If you happen to suspect that your close one has fallen victim to nursing home neglect and you’re clueless as to which steps to take next, we got you covered. Dealing with these types of situations is never an easy task, namely because you often feel responsible for the neglect even though you had the best of intentions when sending your loved one to a nursing home.
It’s important to react calmly and take action with a clear mind. You’ll find useful tips in the next lines and you’ll get more insight into what you’re required to do if you notice malpractice in a nursing home facility.
Signs of nursing home neglect and abuse in assisted living facilities
It’s important to be aware of how to recognize nursing home abuse. Many have the misconception that neglect and abuse can only result in physical injuries. However, that’s not always the case. Harmful actions against your loved one can, unfortunately, have physical consequences and evident marks of physical abuse can be clearly visible.
But, the issue goes beyond that. You need to be able to recognize the signs that are possibly hidden from the human eye. You have to be on the lookout for any changes in the behavior of your loved one.
A nursing home abuse attorney from West Virginia lists the following as signals that your close one is suffering from abuse or nursing home neglect:
- Frequent mood changes and depression
- Confusion, aggression and sudden isolation from others
- Visible signs that the resident is unkept and malnurtured
Therefore, you should regularly communicate with your loved one to monitor their behavior and see if they express any changes in the way they approach you or their peers.
Taking action against nursing home neglect
Once you’re fully convinced that your loved one is not being treated properly, that’s when it’s time to act and ensure such maltreatment doesn’t repeat. The earlier you recognize the signs, the better as you’ll spare your loved one the emotional stress and trauma.
Gather evidence to support your claims
Even if you’re certain that malpractice has taken place, you’ll still need to provide evidence to support your claims. Gather as much evidence as you can, anything that points to signs of neglect and abuse will work in your favor in building a case against the nursing home in question.
The first step is to ask your loved one to describe in detail the way they’ve been treated. Naturally, recalling the events, especially if traumatizing, can be a trigger for your family member, but it’s a necessary step as it helps you write down the exact timeline and build a good foundation for your evidence.
Then, proceed to collect any relevant medical records that can testify to the degradation of health in the nursing home resident. Make sure to ask the therapist to share their notes as well, especially if they’ve noticed a sudden shift in the resident’s behavior.
Refer to a nursing home ombudsman
You might not be aware of the fact that each federal state is required to have a nursing home ombudsman program. The ombudsman’s office representatives are obliged to listen to your concerns and examine the evidence you provide.
It’s their responsibility to take each of these complaints seriously and take necessary action. Their duty is to fight for the residents’ rights and any signs of malpractice require immediate action.
If law enforcement action is also required, they will inform you about that. At times, the involvement of law enforcement is also necessary, depending on the type of abuse and neglect.
Call 911 in immediate danger situations
If you feel your loved one is in immediate danger or in a life-threatening situation, it’s important to call 911 without hesitation. That is the best way you can ensure the safety of your loved one and skip all the previous steps in cases with high-severity neglect and extreme abuse.
A 911 call guarantees immediate medical attention and, on top of that, the authorities can start digging into the events and start their investigation on the spot. However, as a highlighter, this is the right approach only when you feel there’s a threat to life. Otherwise, it’s better to follow the protocol and gather evidence first.
The final word: Fighting against neglect
Although we hope that you won’t be needing most of this information, it’s always better to be prepared and have all the information at your fingertips. Nursing home neglect is unfortunately becoming a growing problem and if you’ve had no choice but to turn to an assisted living facility, make sure it’s a reputable one and closely follow your loved one’s behavior over time.
The moment you notice any changes, no matter how minute, take immediate action and start by having a close conversation with the nursing home resident to get more information.
Nursing home neglect shouldn’t go unnoticed and it’s of the utmost importance to repost it at once to avoid further emotional trauma for your loved one and for other potential victims as well.
