Elder abuse isn’t always easy to recognize, but that’s a problem that comes down to poor communication in most cases. If you are talking to your loved one regularly and are present in the nursing home community, then the likelihood is that you’re going to be there to see what happens.
The reality is that not all people can be there enough to know when things go wrong. All you may know is that you got a call that your loved one fell or that they have a bedsore that requires care.
What should you do if you notice more problems happening in a nursing home?
The first thing to do is to stop and avoid jumping to conclusions. As people age, they do tend to fall more often and may make poor decisions because of declining mental health. However, it is the responsibility of the nursing home to take steps to prevent further injuries in the future. For instance, if your loved one falls in a nursing home, then there should be a fall-risk notice to make sure that they’re aware that your loved one may need assistance getting out of bed or going to the bathroom.
What do you do if they don’t improve the quality of care?
Any time a loved one suffers an injury, you should monitor the quality of care moving forward. If they’re hurt again or you don’t see improvements, it’s time to speak with your attorney about your options and to work with another agency to get your loved one to a safer facility as soon as possible.
