It can be hard to know what to look for if you suspect a loved one who is a resident of a nursing home isn’t receiving the right treatment. Perhaps you think that the staff could simply do a little more to make your relative comfortable. Or, perhaps even worse, you suspect that the staff of the nursing home is actively abusing your relative, or just neglecting to do their jobs. So, what should our readers look for if they suspect that a loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home?
Admittedly, it can be hard to tell the difference between abuse and neglect, and natural changes in personality when someone lives in a nursing home or is in declining health. But, some of the more common signs of abuse or neglect are: bedsores; unexplained injuries; changes in mood or personality; nervousness; and weight loss. Of course, there may be many more signs that your relative isn’t being treated correctly by the nursing home staff.
In essence, it is important to investigate a bit when you feel like something just isn’t right. Anyone would probably change a bit upon moving into a nursing home, but you know your relatives better than anyone: trust your gut when you think something isn’t right.
At our law firm, we do our best to work with our clients who believe that a relative is being subjected to abuse or neglect in a nursing home or assisted living facility. The healthcare professionals and staff at these facilities are entrusted with the well-being of our relatives: they need to take that trust seriously. For more information about how we might be able to help, please visit the nursing home neglect and elder abuse section of our law firm’s website.
