How to Recognize the Signs of Neglect in a Nursing Home
Oftentimes we hear an elderly parent say something like “don’t put me in a home.” This plea is usually laughed or shrugged off because we think it means that the elder does not think their family cares about them. However, the truth behind such statements is that the elder is worried about being neglected or abused in a nursing home where no one can help them.
Elders in nursing homes often feel as if they have no avenues to report neglect or abuse. When learning how to recognize the signs of neglect in nursing homes, it's important to ask yourself a few questions regarding what you know about your loved one’s treatment:
- Are there any signs of medical neglect? Bedsores, untreated infections, or failures to give patients their medicine are common examples of medical neglect. If you recognize any of these health issues ailing your loved one, then there could be neglect at the source. You should take signs of medical neglect seriously, as problems that seem mostly innocuous can escalate to life-threatening concerns later.
- Are there signs of personal hygiene neglect? Poor grooming, irregular bathing schedules, and failures to change clothing each day can all be signs of personal hygiene neglect.
- Are there signs of basic-needs neglect? If you suspect that your loved one isn't receiving proper nutrition and hydration, then the nursing home is neglecting their basic needs. Even failing to provide a clean and safe environment could constitute neglect, which is grounds for civil action.
- Are there signs of emotional neglect? Perhaps the most difficult form of neglect to spot, emotional neglect can lead to depression and withdrawal. Too many unfriendly interactions with staff members could lead to other behavioral changes as well, including aggression and emotional detachment. Emotional neglect is oftentimes considered just as bad as physical neglect and should be addressed as soon as possible.
Ways to Help Prevent Neglect
If you suspect that there are signs of any form of neglect, then you will need to look into the situation further. One of the most important ways to do this is by regularly contacting and interacting with your loved ones.
Methods to interact with your elderly loved ones can include:
- Phone calls: You should still be allowed to call your elderly loved one as often as you want if they live in a nursing home and have their own cellphone. Visual confirmation is helpful when trying to find certain signs of abuse, but simply talking with your loved one can help you uncover problems, even if they do not say anything directly. Listen for worry in their voice when mentioning their caretaker, for example, or mentions that they have been hungry lately. Small statements like that could be the first hint that something is wrong.
- Video conferencing: Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, video teleconferencing is easier than ever. Most smartphones have such apps installed by default, so you and your elderly loved one should have little issue finding one to use. Call them using the popular app FaceTime, for example, and make sure they speak to you while in good lighting. You can use this time to see them as they are and look for physical evidence of neglect or abuse. Unexplained bruises could be caused by harassment, and gaunt-looking appearances might indicate malnutrition or dehydration.
- Written letters: Of course, do not forget about the age-old tradition of writing letters and sending them via the U.S. Postal Service. Your loved one's letters should be entirely confidential and not read by anyone else at the nursing home, so you can ask them if they have any complaints of abuse or neglect. With this said, it could take a little longer than you might expect for your loved one to reply to your inquiry.
Taking Action Once Neglect is Recognized
What can you do to protect your loved one from further neglect and abuse if you believe you have been able to confirm it? If you think your loved one could be the victim of immediate physical injury, then you should call the authorities to intervene. Otherwise, you can call a local nursing home abuse law firm for legal assistance.
Under the guidance of an attorney, you can explore the best way to intervene and deal with the issue without complicating your case or endangering your loved one. For example, some dishonest nursing homes might try to destroy the evidence of neglect the moment they receive a complaint.
An attorney can use legal tools to preserve the evidence by a court order. Once enough evidence is gathered, they can prepare a claim and pursue fair and maximized compensation on behalf of you and your loved one.
Call Today for a Free Case Consultation
The skilled Maryland nursing home negligence lawyers at Wilson & Parlett can help review and analyze your claim against a nursing home or long-term care facility during a free case consultation based out of our offices in Waldorf and Upper Marlboro.
We can help guide you through the complicated process of presenting this type of medical malpractice case. If we believe nursing home negligence or abuse has occurred, we can aggressively pursue your claim to adequately compensate you and your loved one. Compensation can cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, and reduced quality of life.
