Finding a suitable care facility for your aging family member is difficult. You may be juggling a nursing home that can provide the right type of care in a specific location that also fits within a particular budget.
When you trust the nursing home staff to care for your loved one, you know there is a potential risk. However, you hope that this facility will care for your family member with the respect they deserve.
Abuse can often be difficult to spot when you visit your loved one. Here are some of the signs of nursing home abuse.
Unusual disposition
Many discussions about nursing home abuse focus on physical abuse or neglect. While these are important to watch for, the most common type of abuse of older people in community settings, like nursing homes, is psychological abuse.
Unfortunately, caring for the aging population is difficult, and workers may take their frustrations out on the people they are supposed to support. Your family member may feel uncomfortable talking about ill-treatment, so paying attention to the signs is critical. When you visit your loved one, you should pay attention to their attitude and demeanor. Changes could indicate they are experiencing psychological abuse.
Unexplained sores
As your loved one’s skin ages, it becomes more vulnerable to breakdown. While occasional bedsores and other incidents of skin breakdown can happen regardless of the quality of care, when someone is left for long periods in the same position, they are more likely to experience bedsores.
You should talk to your family member and help check them for bedsores. When issues like these become routine or are left untreated, it can signify that the staff is not giving your loved one the care they should receive.
Nursing home abuse can happen anywhere
Professional care can be essential to supporting your loved one for many reasons, so it is important to choose a facility carefully and monitor for changes. The World Health Organization observed that around one in six people over 60 experienced abuse in community care settings.
There are many types of abuse, so it is crucial to advocate for your loved one if you notice significant changes in their care or behavior.