When you place a loved one in a care home or a nursing home you like to think that they are getting a high caliber of care. After all, with trained nurses attending to their every need and personal CPNs around to help maintain their quality of care, there is no reason why your loved one should be in danger in these situations.
Better Care Then Home
In fact, the most common reason that people decide to place their loved ones into a nursing home is because they think that they will get better care then they will at home. Aging is a complicated process, and at some point you simply may not be able to care for your spouse or beloved family member the way that you know they should be cared for.
Since you make the decision to place them in a nursing home out of love, it is even more shocking when you find out that they have been the subject of abuse within the care center.
Elder Abuse is More Common than You Think
It is a very sad fact that within our health care system elder abuse is actually a widespread problem. In fact, many elderly people are abused on a daily basis and are victims due to the fact that they do not have their own voices.
Much like a child that cannot speak for themselves, when people age many loose the ability to communicate. Therefore, they cannot tell you that they are being abused or even comprehend the matter for themselves. Of course, they still feel the pain that stems from abuse.
Not Always Just Physical
Elder abuse does not have to be physical in nature either. While you may be able to see physical bruises sometimes, elder abuse can also exist in circumstances where an elderly patient is left to develop bed sores because they are not moved or where they develop rashes and other painful infections because their diapers are not properly changed.
In some nursing homes elder abuse can also be present in the form of neglect. Neglect includes the above scenarios as well as failure to dispense medication, feed daily meals, or offer water and other hydrating forms of nourishment. Most of these situations stem from pure laziness and a lack of accountability.
What You Can Do
If you suspect that a loved one has been the victim of elder abuse then the very first thing you should do is seek out help from elder abuse attorneys. They will help you sort through the facts surrounding your case and decide the next course of action you should take.
Remember also that when you launch a complaint against a nursing home you are not only speaking up for your loved one, but for all of the residents of the nursing home who cannot speak up for themselves. After all, if it is happening to your loved one it is probably happening to other people’s loved ones as well.
