One of the toughest decisions in life is the decision to move a loved one into an assisted living facility. Doing so doesn’t mean that you are giving up on them or that you are a bad son or daughter. You are making this decision because it is in the best interest of your parent. The facility can provide them with around-the-clock care and monitoring that they require in order to remain safe.
But, what if your loved one is subjected to abuse? Would you know how to spot it? Here are questions you need to ask your loved on a regular basis:
1. Is medication being administered?
This is an important question because if your parent is supposed to be given medication daily, missing it once or twice might cause serious health issues. Failing to administer the proper medication is a form of abuse.
2. Are you taking part in activities?
Even though your parent is in an assisted living facility, it doesn’t mean they cannot participate in group activities. You don’t want to find out when it’s too late that your loved one is being kept in their room alone all the time.
3. Is the staff receptive to your needs?
The nurses and other staff members are supposed to be receptive to the needs of every resident in the facility. They should respond to every resident as quickly as possible. Ignoring residents or failing to help them get dressed or cleaned is another form of abuse.
Abuse in assisted living facilities is more common than you might think. You just need to know what to be on the lookout for so it’s easier to spot. If you ask the questions outlined here you should be able to determine if your loved one is being abused or not.