The decision to place a loved one in a nursing home is rarely easy. However, assisted living facilities are equipped to handle a range of medical conditions and monitor residents 24/7, which family members, no matter how devoted they are, may not be able to do on their own.
While many nursing homes go above and beyond when caring for residents, others fall short of expectations. In some cases, nursing home staff may take advantage of the vulnerable residents by inflicting physical, sexual or emotional abuse upon them. In addition, nursing homes may inflict neglect upon their residents by not attending to their needs, like moving them in bed to prevent bed sores, failing to change their diapers, or not providing them regular hygiene.
Nursing home abuse can take on many forms. The signs may not always be immediately evident, especially if staff takes steps to conceal them. However, certain signs should be cause for concern if noticed by the loved ones of residents. These signs include:
While you can’t be with your loved one 24/7, you can prevent nursing home abuse and neglect by visiting as often as possible. Should you notice the above effects or feel that your loved one is behaving differently, talk with the staff about any issues he or she may be experiencing. You can also bring your concerns up to the administrator, who should take suitable action to get to the bottom of the issue.
If your concerns remain unaddressed and questions unanswered, it may be time to take more aggressive action against the nursing home. In Albuquerque, Martinez, Hart, Thompson & Sanchez, P.C. represents the interests of vulnerable groups, including those currently residing in nursing and assisted living facilities. We’ll defend the rights of the injured party and ensure the nursing home is responsible for their actions.
