It's difficult to imagine how anyone could ever neglect a vulnerable or elderly adult. However, elder neglect is not uncommon in families and nursing homes throughout Florida. Therefore, it's important to look at the underlying causes from a psychological perspective so that we can prevent it from happening whenever possible.
Could the holiday season contribute to elder neglect or abuse?
The entire winter holiday season is packed with special events and family gatherings. For those in nursing homes, the disruption in their routine can be difficult to handle -- and it can also create problems with their care that you might not expect.
There's no place for abuse in assisted-living facilities
There is never an excuse for abuse. Whether the person is an adult going through rehabilitation in an assisted-living facility or an elderly person who has no other family to rely on, abuse is not an acceptable way to handle a patient.
Questions to ask when evaluating a nursing home
Everyone is concerned before sending their mothers or fathers to a nursing home, and with good reason. You never know for sure if you'll be sending your loved one to a place where he or she will receive the best care possible. However, by asking the following questions before sending your loved one to live in a long-term care facility, there's a better chance that he or she will receve the best care possible:
What are 2 important tips for choosing a long-term care facility?
Assisted-living facilities and nursing homes have a special place in American society. They're facilities that help take care of the aging population. The staff members are trained to care for the elderly and aging so that they can live with the highest quality of life possible, even if their health is starting to deteriorate.
Take these steps before choosing a nursing home
Numerous aging adults end up moving into potentially dangerous nursing homes where neglect, abuse and poor care happen on a regular basis. If you're in the position where you need to move into a nursing facility -- or if your loved one needs to move into a nursing home -- make sure you do the following before selecting one:
What to do if your parent does not like his or her nursing home
When you help your parent move into a nursing home, you quickly realize the pros and cons of it. Your role changes significantly from closely monitoring your loved one every day to becoming an advocate for quality care. While nursing home staff may be taking over the core tasks of providing care, you still must be a voice to help make sure your loved one receives the proper treatment.
How can you better determine if neglect or abuse took place?
Interventions are needed when the elderly are being neglected. No matter who it is, no one deserves to be treated as if they're worthless or not deserving of care. Elder neglect often starts slow, but when those who neglect or abuse others realize that no one will stop them, the abuse can become significant.
The 4 main kinds of elder abuse
The elderly segment of the population is vulnerable to abuse, and unfortunately, they are often abused if the wrong kinds of people are caring for them. Often, the "abusers" will argue and fight the fact that they're committing this abuse, and go to great lengths to hide it. That's why -- if you suspect your loved one, relative or friend is being abused -- you need to be careful to keep an eye out for signs of the following types of abuse:
Where does Florida rank in terms of elder protection?
A vast majority of nursing homes take great care of their residents. There are certainly plenty of retirement homes in Florida, and thousands of retirees flock to the state every year to enjoy the sunshine and coastline. However, there is still improvement these homes can make throughout the state to prevent elder abuse and neglect.
How surveillance cameras can help protect nursing home patients
Nursing home patients are vulnerable to abuse and neglect. They can't defend themselves against attacks. If they speak up, they run the risk of suffering even more mistreatment, abuse or neglect in retaliation. Therefore, many nursing home patients spend a long time suffering before the abuse and neglect gets dealt with. Sometimes, they have suffered serious injuries -- and potentially fatal health conditions -- before their stories get heard.
