3 Ways You Can Detect Nursing Home Abuse

Utilizing a nursing home for your elderly loved one is a great way to get them the care that they need without having to sacrifice your own time in order to provide. Many times, children especially leave their jobs or take time away from their children in order to care for their elderly loved one. A nursing home can definitely help you avoid this and give you peace of mind knowing that your parent is cared for. However, many people worry that nursing home abuse is all too common and can become fearful that it might occur.

There are many ways to easily detect it, though, which allows you to gain the legal help you need to take action and get your parent into a better facility. Here are just three ways in which you can detect possible abuse:

Bedsores: Consistent bedsores on your parent's body could mean that they are not getting the attention that is needed. On top of this, it could mean that they are remaining in bed for much too long rather than getting outdoors, exercise, and social interaction, which are all very important things even in old age. If your parent is bedridden, however, it's still a sign of abuse since at this point, your parent should be rotated to different positions in bed regularly, otherwise, this is how bedsores occur. 

Abuse from Other Patients: Nothing should be stolen from your parent, their food should not be taken, and their medications should not be taken either. Surprisingly this is all too common in nursing homes and is usually because of another patient who may be suffering from a mental issue. However, this should be handled by the nurses on site and taken notice of right away. If it's a continuous problem, it's a sure sign that your loved one is not getting the attention that is needed. 

Sudden Weight Loss Without Reason: Sudden weight loss can be a sign of nursing home abuse. Of course, you should consult with your loved one's doctor first because it could also be a health issue. If there is no health issue, though, it could mean that your parent is not eating consistently. Be sure that the facility has a written log of your parent's eating habits. If it's not there, then it's a sure sign that your parent simply is not being fed. 

These are three signs that nursing home abuse is occurring. To ensure that you are aware of these yourself, you should be visiting your parent on a consistent basis and consulting with an elder law attorney if needed. 


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