Crystal Rae
Did you know that there are currently 46 million U.S. adults 65 and older? The rapidly growing older population needs specific healthcare and long-term care. 90% of older adults have one or more chronic illnesses.
Considering the number of older adults in the country, you might have a family member who falls into this category. Is your family member staying in a nursing home? Are you worried about nursing home abuse?
Check out our list of some warning signs to look for.
1. Increased Confusion
If you have a parent or family member living in a nursing home and you suspect abuse, one of the most common signs is changes in their emotional or mental state.
If you notice that your family member seems more confused than normal, this could be a sign of over-medicating on part of the staff. Other changes to look for are increased isolation. Your family member might be less active in community gatherings and spend all their time in their room.
2. Sudden Physical Changes
If you’re wondering how to spot abuse in nursing homes, changes in physical appearance can be an obvious red flag. If your loved one appears malnourished or dehydrated, you need to take action right away.
Bruises or scars in less visible areas of their body are other signs of abuse. If your family member or staff aren’t able to explain where the bruises come from you need to consider taking action to protect your loved one.
3. Hygiene Problems
Other nursing home abuse signs include changes in personal hygiene. Your loved one might be in a nursing home because they need day-to-day help with things like bathing and brushing their teeth.
If these needs aren’t being met by the staff at the home they aren’t just neglecting your loved one, they’re inflicting abuse on them. Every person deserves the dignity of having their necessities met.
If you notice your loved one wearing dirty clothes or smelling like urine during a visit, you need to bring this up to the staff right away.
4. Unsupportive Staff
Nursing homes can get busy with the number of patients that need attention each day. This doesn’t mean that your loved one shouldn’t be getting the care they need, however.
If you notice that staff are deflecting when you bring up concerns you have, this isn’t a good sign. If they don’t answer calls or return messages you’re dealing with an unsupportive staff at best and an abusive one at worst.
If you want to file a lawsuit citing nursing home abuse, you should contact qualified lawyers who can help make the process stress-free for you and your loved one.
Nursing Home Abuse Signs to Look For
There are many nursing home abuse signs you need to look out for when you leave a loved one in the care of someone else. Physical and emotional changes are the most common signs that indicate a problem.
Make sure to check out some of the other blogs on our site if you found this one helpful.
