How You Can Help Prevent Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

It is a sad fact that numerous nursing home facilities abuse and neglect the residents.  Even some of the best nursing homes in the country can employ staff members who participate in elder abuse.  If you have a family member living in a nursing home, you can help prevent nursing home abuse and neglect.  Regular visits to the nursing home and communication with the staff can dramatically reduce your loved one’s risk of nursing home neglect and abuse.

Elder abuse can be physical, verbal or financial and can come in many different forms.  When a nursing home resident is neglected, it can lead to a life-threatening condition, such as dehydration and malnutrition.  If the nursing staff isn’t taking the time necessary to care for residents, some residents may be given too little or too much medicine, which can result in serious health problems and even death.  You can help protect your loved one by looking for signs of nursing home abuse and neglect, which include bruising, poor hygiene, weight loss, drowsiness, scratches, lacerations and unsanitary living conditions.

When you make frequent visits to the nursing home, you will keep the staff on alert.  They know that a family member who visits often will be more likely to identify abuse or neglect and report it to the appropriate authorities.  Therefore, the nursing home staff will pay careful attention to meeting the needs of your loved one.

During your visits to the nursing home, communicate with the staff.  They can keep you informed on your family member’s progress and health.  As you begin to build the relationship, you can become an advocate for your loved one to make sure that his or her needs are being met.

If you discover that your family member has been the victim of elder abuse or neglect, you need to take immediate action.  Contact the Virginia nursing home abuse attorneys at Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C. today at (800) 690-0235.

The article, Preventing Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect, has more information on this topic.