According to the federal government citation, over 1000 nursing home have been reported for mishandling and abusing patients. Furthermore, nursing home abuse is more common among women and men with dementia. These crimes are not just isolated incidents, but instead, occur shift after shift. But unfortunately, nursing home abuse is under-reported and under-investigated. Such cases mostly go unnoticed or are ignored by the relevant parties.
If you have a loved one residing in a nursing home, then you must make sure that they are well-protected and treated nicely. And above all are not the victims of nursing home neglect or abuse. This brings us to the real question, ‘how do we protect a loved one from nursing home abuse’? Since victims of abuse feel embarrassed or shy talking about it, you need to go out of your way to ensure that your loved one doesn’t become a number.
Here are some of the steps that you can take to keep your loved one protected and safe from nursing home abuse:
1. Visit Them Frequently
Studies show that patients who have a few visitors are more at risk to nursing home abuse than patients who are visited frequently by their loved ones. Therefore, make sure to visit your loved one often, so that you let the nursing staff know that nothing will get past you. Also, when visiting your loved one ask them about the level of care at the facility and the attitude of the staff towards them.
2. Have a One-on-One Meeting With the Nursing Staff
Another way to protect your loved one from nursing home abuse is to conduct a face to face meeting with the caregiver every now and then in order to keep up with your family member’s progress. It is advisable that you request a one-on-one meeting with the staff and supervisors at least twice a week. This will show that you’re concerned about your loved one. Also, it will communicate your expectations from them as well. Furthermore, it will also send them a warning that you’re closely monitoring their activities and the way they behave and treat your loved one. This can actually minimize the risk and potential of nursing home abuse, and you can rest assured that your loved one stays well-protected.
3. Understand Your Rights
If you have even the slightest inkling that your loved one might be at risk of experiencing nursing home neglect or abuse, then it is important that you have a strong understanding about the law and know your rights so that you’re fully prepared to take legal action if and when necessary.
Also, before you take legal action, you need to be 100 percent sure that your loved one is a victim of abuse. To substantiate your belief you must take the following steps:
- Visit at unpredictable timings. This is because if the staff knows that you often visit in the noon on Mondays, they will be ready for you. Therefore, pick random times and make unplanned visits to catch the staff by surprise.
- Maintain a journal of your observation as it can be quite valuable if you go into litigation.
- Carry a camera with you and hide it discreetly in your loved one’s room. A hidden camera can provide you with a definite answer, and you can find out the truth as quickly as possible.
4. Look for Signs of Abuse or Neglect
These may include:
- Sudden hospitalization
- Unexplained fractures and bruises
- Pressure marks and abrasion
- Changes in their mental status
- Rapid weight loss
- Bed Sores
All these signs are indicative of the fact that your loved one is not being taken care of properly and is being mistreated at the nursing facility. They could be physically, sexually, emotionally or mentally abused by the staff at the nursing facility. So, if you spot these signs, you must take action fast without any delay.
5. Call Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
When you suspect nursing home neglect or abuse, then you must take action right away. The best way to go about it is to contact an experienced and professional nursing home abuse lawyer. A seasoned nursing home abuse lawyer has the perfect combination of rich experience in dealing and handling such cases as well as a profound knowledge and sound understanding of the law pertaining to nursing home neglect. Such a lawyer can provide you with quality guidance and step by step legal assistance making sure that your loved one gets justice.
Therefore, it is advisable to contact a lawyer first. Call our experienced attorneys to discuss your case and concerns. They can provide you with the best advice and legal course of action for your situation.
Our law firm is committed to providing victims of nursing home abuse with justice and protection. We make sure that your loved one is well-protected and is no more a victim. We can provide you with quality assistance from start to finish so that you enjoy a stress-free experience. Give us the opportunity to provide you with the best services possible. We have helped hundreds of clients seek justice, and we can help you too.