If you have helped a loved one make the decision to move to a nursing home, you will have supported them in this, believing that this would be the best possible option. The purpose of a nursing home is to provide support and comfort for elderly or disabled people, and you have the right to demand such a service from the nursing home in question.
If you have concerns about your loved one’s well-being when they are in a nursing home, it is important that you take the time to understand how nursing home abuse and neglect can be recognized. It is possible for loved ones to miss clear signs of abuse and neglect, and, as a result, they fail to report it.
How can I recognize signs of abuse and neglect in a nursing home?
It is important that you pay close attention to any changes that you notice in your loved one. For example, they may make a shift from being a sociable and extroverted person, to someone who is nervous around others. This is often a clear red flag for nursing home abuse, especially if the personality shift occurs in the weeks that the person is making a transition to living in a nursing home.
You also have good reason to be concerned if your loved one has bruising, is often getting sick or has poor hygiene. In addition, if he or she is secretive with possessions or hiding money in obscure places, it might be a sign that they do not feel secure in the nursing home environment.
What should I do if I have concerns?
It is important that you take the time to sit down and talk with your loved one about the concerns you are having. If you create a safe space to talk, they might be more willing to open up about what they are experiencing. They may also be able to ease your concerns.
If you continue to believe that nursing home neglect or abuse is taking place in the nursing home, it is important that you take action so that your loved one no longer has to suffer.
