How to Identify Nursing Home Neglect and When to Report It

Generally speaking, nursing home abuse or neglect is any action or inaction resulting in illogical anguish, agony, or injury to the patient.

It can cover patient violence as well as neglect of required food, medical attention, or physical treatment. 

Once their loved ones have been put in a nursing facility, the family should remain active in their life. This is the most effective approach to either avoid or acknowledge abuse.

Here are five ways to identify nursing home neglect and when to report it.

Neglect

On the part of the nursing home, neglect might be deliberate or inadvertent. Neglect results from unsatisfied desires for a patient.

This includes not giving the patient suitable food, medical, water, and personal care. Either the staff members do this deliberately, or it can be accidental and brought about by insufficient staffing in a care home.

One should be aware of the warning indications for neglect. Neglecting a patient could cause malnourishment or dehydration.

Bed sores and other skin disorders can also show neglect. One indication of disregard for personal care is a drop in personal hygiene. Another indication of neglect is weight loss. 

There are various ways on how to report a nursing home for neglect. One can contact the state’s Department of Health or Adult Protective Services to report neglect in a nursing home.

It is important to gather any evidence or documentation to support the claim of neglect before making a report.

Physical Abuse

Abuse involving the elderly patient being physically harmed is referred to as physical abuse. It entails causing deliberate physical harm.

This includes pinching, kicking, or striking. Excessive usage of restraints, bed injuries, or physical neglect might result in physical abuse.

Physical abuse is simpler to spot. However, false reports of falls, stumbles, or clothing can conceal some indications of physical abuse. Abrasions and bruises, fractures, falls, and brain injuries can all indicate physical abuse. 

The family should be alerted of injuries that require immediate medical attention or that result in fractured bones.

In most cases, when the family is there, the staff member in charge of an abused resident will not leave. This could be an indication that the resident is experiencing a bad situation.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual exploitation or unwelcome sexual attention are examples of this kind of abuse. Any patient may experience this. There are some warning indicators of sexual abuse.

Indications of elder sexual abuse may include genital and inner thigh bruises or pelvic damage. Newly acquired sexually transmitted diseases are a serious warning sign. 

Sexual abuse may result in an elderly person experiencing inexplicable difficulties walking or standing. Changes in mood or behavior, especially odd sexual conduct, may also occur.

Identify any of these warning indicators in a loved one and take appropriate action.

Financial Abuse

This kind of abuse occurs when a caregiver utilizes their access to the elderly person’s financial affairs to steal from or jeopardize the victim’s assets.

Theft from the individual or accounts, credit applications, or inaccurate invoicing for Medicare or Medicaid-covered services are examples of this.

The following are indicators of financial abuse to look out for if your loved one is in a nursing home: 

• An elderly patient’s caretaker requests money or steals items or cash as gifts.
• Unexpected credit card charges or abrupt financial mismanagement
• Demanding that a patient sign financial documents or use a fake identity on them

Endnote 

Investigating and questioning the institution is crucial if any of these abuses are suspected. Your loved one may also need to be taken out of the facility. A large number of these offenses are not reported.

Finding a lawyer who can assist in taking the necessary legal steps to safeguard your loved one and reporting the crime to the right authorities is crucial.