Deciding to put your loved one into a nursing home isn’t easy for any Florida resident. When they make such decisions, they believe they’re making the best choice for their loved ones’ well-being.
Unfortunately, many elderly residents become victims of abuse and neglect within nursing homes. This abuse can be done out of malice or accidentally by an overworked nursing home staff. Regardless of the reasons for the abuse, it’s important to intervene as soon as possible.
Recognizing the signs of nursing home neglect
It’s not uncommon for signs of nursing home abuse to go unnoticed at first, especially if a family doesn’t get to see their loved one often. The abuse often comes to light after the loved one has a medical emergency.
That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to notice abuse early on though. You can subtly check for different signs when you visit your family member. Some of the early signs include:
• Bed sores
• Unexplained bruises or injuries
• New medical conditions
• Issues with personal hygiene
In addition, your loved one might also exhibit signs of early dementia or other loss of cognitive function. If the nursing home staff seems distant or unwilling to share specific details, that could also be a red flag.
Finding the owner of a nursing home
After finding out your loved one has been abused, intentionally or not, you want to find out as much about the nursing home as possible. You might even consider finding the owner of the nursing home.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services lists every currently active nursing home, as well as their owner. Whether you want to press charges, report the nursing home, or just make sure your loved one doesn’t accidentally end up at another facility with the same owner, having this information can be useful.
