3 Ways To Watch Out For Nursing Home Neglect

If you have a loved one that is in a nursing home, you need to make sure that you visit them and keep an eye on their care. You also need to make sure that you are aware of the signs of nursing home neglect, so you can take action if you suspect that your loved one is not being taken care of properly. This is extremely important because often your loved one will not have the capacity to stand up for themselves when they are in a nursing home, so it is up to you to make sure that they are being taken care of properly, and to stand up for them when they are not.

Personal Hygiene

Just because your loved one is in a nursing home doesn't mean that personal hygiene should go to the wayside. The staff at the nursing home facility should help your loved one out with personal hygiene. That means that they should assist with daily hygiene tasks, such as taking a bath, brushing their teeth, combing their hair, and cleaning up after using the restroom. That also means that the staff should assist your loved one with more long-term personal hygiene issues, such as getting haircuts and clipping their finger and toe nails.

Pay attention to your loved one's personal hygiene over time. If you notice that they always smell bad and don't seem to be clean, that is one form of nursing home neglect.

Clean Environment

Next, it should not be your loved one's responsibility to keep their environment clean. It is up to the nursing home to make sure that their bedding is changed, the room is dusted and vacuumed, and that their bathroom is clean. The nursing home also needs to provide a clean kitchen and general clean common areas as well.

Unsanitary conditions can lead to serious health complications for individuals with weak immune systems and other health conditions. An unclean environment is another sign of nursing home neglect.

Injuries

It is natural for the elderly to experience some injures. For example, hip injuries from falls are a lot more common among the elderly than they are among middle-aged adults. However, your loved one should not be experiencing broken bones and bruises all the time. Frequent falls and injuries are a sign that the nursing home is not providing your loved one with the right assistance and help that they need. Bruising can also be a sign of physical abuse. If your loved one seems to be getting hurt more than is average for someone of their age and ability, this is yet another sign of nursing home neglect.

The three signs listed here are by no means an all-inclusive list. There are numerous other signs of nursing home neglect, such as psychological issues, lack of ability, and lack of proper nutrition. If you notice signs of neglect, find and hire legal services that can help you moved your loved one and prove that they were neglected so that this treatment doesn't continue for other elderly individuals. 


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