Nursing Home Attorney
When you leave your loved one in the care of a nursing home, you expect him or her to receive adequate care. Subsequently, you expect that they will not suffer any abuse or neglect at the hands of the staff. Unfortunately, this is a real problem in nursing homes. If you suspect abuse, here are the steps that you can take.
Visit the Nursing Home
A visit to the nursing home can give you an idea of the circumstances that your loved ones are in. Look for signs of neglect. How clean is the establishment? How do staff treat the patients? If you see anything that is suspicious or that you feel constitutes as neglect, then you need to report it. A visit to the nursing home will provide you with a clear view of the type of environment that your loved one is in.
Speak With Your Loved One
Some aging individuals will not speak to their abuse. You should still try to speak with your loved one about suspected abuse. Ask him or her questions about his or her care and find out how safe your loved one feels in the home. In addition, you should look for any signs of abuse or neglect. Look for bruises or marks. Your loved one may also look like his or her personal hygiene is failing if he or she is suffering from neglect. Other signs to look for are if your parents or grandparents are quieter, less social or if they have had any personality changes. This could be a sign of abuse.
Report Nursing Home Abuse
If you believe that there is nursing home abuse or neglect occurring in your loved one’s nursing home, then you need to say something. Sometimes, the abuse and neglect comes down to poorly trained staff members, but you still want to ensure that the problem has a solution. To report nursing home abuse, you can contact the local law enforcement, medical doctors or file a report with nursing home administrators. Your loved one does not have to speak up about the abuse for you to take action.
Your loved one deserves to feel safe in his or her home. Nursing home staff have a responsibility to care for your aged loved one. Neglect and abuse are not acceptable. For more information about filing a claim against a nursing home, contact a nursing home lawyer today! He or she can help you with your report.