Nursing Home Neglect
From LoveToKnow Seniors
No one wants to think about nursing home neglect, but it does happen. How much do you know about the nursing home or assisted living environment you are considering?
Visiting Prospective Nursing Homes
It is vital that a nursing home be visited before anyone is sent there for recovery or as a permanent resident. Glossy brochures don’t always tell the whole story, nor do the nice waiting areas with expensive furniture for visitors. The best way to get a real feel for a nursing home is to visit one, preferably without a guided tour.
Facility Tours
Walk in the hallways and look into open rooms to see if they are clean. Talk with a resident who may be sitting in the hall to see if they are happy and upbeat. Signs of trouble include many residents who are sad or unresponsive, poorly groomed, and bad odors in the residence areas.
Non-Peak Hours
It is important to visit nursing home facilities during non-peak hours to see how they operate. Check out the facilities in the evenings and weekends to see how they are run when staffing is low. Are the residents ignored when they need assistance? If so, try another facility that takes better care of the residents.
Meal Times
A good time to visit and evaluate a nursing home facility is during meal times. Is there enough staff to care for the residents? How much time does the staff spend with each resident? Are residents left to fend for themselves at mealtime? If possible, arrange to eat a typical meal to judge the food being served. Too many thin residents may signal nursing home neglect.
It is also important to check to see if each resident has a pitcher of water in his or her room within reach of the bed. Dehydration is detrimental to anyone, especially the elderly.
State Survey
Ask to see the state survey that should be available at each facility you visit. The state survey lists any concerns, safety results, population, staffing and the owner of the facility.
Granny Cams
A new way for friends and family members to visit their loved ones in nursing homes via the Internet is the so-called "granny cam." Cameras in each resident’s room allow those with access to check in on their relatives to make sure they are okay. These are becoming increasingly popular, especially in high-end nursing care facilities.
What Is Nursing Home Neglect?
Perhaps you’ve found the perfect nursing home for a short stay or a permanent one. After you or your loved one have moved in, things don’t seem as well as they should be. Do you know what nursing home neglect actually is? The following offers a checklist of things that are considered neglect:
- Physical abuse: This includes giving too much or not enough medication, not allowing residents to leave their rooms, unreasonable physical restraints and of course, beating, slapping and hitting.
- Neglect: Malnutrition, bedsores, dehydration, poor personal hygiene, infections, open sores, limited access to medical care.
- Verbal and emotional abuse: When a resident shuts down and no longer wants to communicate, eat or begins unusual behavior like sucking their thumbs and rocking themselves in bed, these are warning signs of abuse.
- Unreported illness or dangerous behavior: If a resident repeatedly has broken bones, delayed care for illnesses or wanders away from the facility, these are all evidence of neglect.
Choose the Right Nursing Home
Choosing the right nursing home can be time consuming, but it is well worth the trouble to find a safe, nurturing environment. The following websites offer information that can help you find the right nursing care facility in your area:
This page has been accessed 187 times. This page was last modified 16:39, 10 December 2007.
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