Aventura Nursing Home Abuse Blog

Assisted living facilities are ideal for many older adults, as they protect some of the independence they want while still providing some care that they need. Assisted living facilities operate in a few ways, depending on which type you choose. Some offer around-the-clock care in a private apartment or residency, while others have nurses who help only with certain tasks throughout the day or on days they're needed.

Most assisted-living abuse is physical, sexual or psychological. Sometimes, it can be financial as well. In each case, the resident has the opportunity to speak out about the abuse, but only if they have someone they can turn to for assistance. For this reason, it is important to make regular visits to a loved one's assisted-living home, so you can discuss their care and if they have any concerns.

Nursing home abuse is a real problem that should be discussed more often than it is in today's society. Too often, people think about nursing homes as a place where they can "store" the elderly and where they don't have to worry about their care.

The reality is that a nursing home is just another location for your loved one to live. There are no guarantees that they'll be safe there, even if they are supposed to be provided for. It's still your responsibility to make sure you review your loved one's care and be certain that they aren't taken advantage of or mistreated.

Perhaps you are in the process of choosing a nursing home for your elderly mother who is no longer mobile and must use a wheelchair. It is a good idea to find out how a nursing home staff handles wheelchair patients and how they treat bed sores, infections and other health issues. It is also a good idea to learn about the emergency plan the nursing home has in place.

Response to a public records request

Victims of neglect and abuse at assisted living facilities are often shy to speak up about their experiences. They may be worried that their abusers will make their lives even more difficult if they talk about what's happening. They might even be afraid or embarrassed to tell their own families about the nursing home abuse.

This is why we need to support our relatives and loved ones to speak up -- and to know that we're available to help them whenever they need it. Here are some questions to ask your loved one from time to time if they're living in a nursing facility:

• Does anyone here refuse to take you to the bathroom?
• Does anyone here avoid giving you food, medicine or other necessities?
• Does anyone here isolate you alone in your room when you want to enjoy visiting other people?
• Does anyone here restrain you or tie you up?
• Does anyone here touch you in inappropriate ways?
• Does anyone here call you names or humiliate you?
• Does anyone here threaten or scold you?
• Does anyone here scare you?
• Does anyone here hurt you?
• Does anyone here refuse to take you to help you when you need it?