Caregivers neglect the elderly for many reasons, whether they are in-home caregivers or workers at a nursing home or assisted living facility. As a family member, you really need to be aware of some of the risks, as neglect can be just as bad as abuse. The injuries or negative impacts may not be intentional, but that does not mean they don’t exist. The elderly deserve a higher quality of care.
One thing to watch out for is a caregiver who has personal issues that may make neglect more likely. For instance, some experts warn about drug use or alcoholism. If the caregiver struggles with addiction, are they going to neglect your loved one in order to get their fix? Are they going to work while under the influence, leading to neglect when they simply cannot do their job properly? Just how safe is your loved one?
Another example is when a caregiver has a medical issue of their own. Maybe they have depression or anxiety. Maybe they have struggled with other mental health issues in the past. If they forget to take their medication, will they not be able to provide proper care? If they have some sort of a mental break on the job, will that put your loved one at risk? The issues are not the caregiver’s fault, but they could still put your loved one in harm’s way, and you cannot ignore that.
If you think that your loved one has been neglected or gotten poor care for any reason, in any setting, make sure you know what legal options you have.
