Taking a loved one to a nursing home is not easy. However, in some situations, it may be the right call. For example, when they are old, injured or have mobility issues, and you are not in a position to take care of them the whole day.
Sadly, even though you trust your chosen nursing home to protect your loved one, some caregivers fail to follow laws, harming patients. The following are four types of nursing home abuse and neglect.
1. Physical abuse
Some nursing home staff may physically abuse a resident. Beating, punching, grabbing, pushing and tying have been reported in some homes. Physical abuse usually leads to bruises, broken bones and potentially death.
2. Emotional abuse
This is possibly the most common type of abuse in nursing homes. Examples of emotional abuse include controlling a client against their will, yelling, threatening to harm a resident, embarrassing them, making one feel guilty and talking to or treating a client like a child. Emotional abuse leads to anxiety, sadness, depression, isolation and anger.
3. Financial abuse
If a nursing home worker uses a resident’s finances illegally or steals personal information from their financial records to obtain credit, it’s financial abuse. Taking valuables from a client is also considered abuse.
4. Neglect
Some caregivers neglect residents, rather than actively seek to harm them. This can take different forms, including medical, hygiene and feeding neglect. Examples are medication errors, malnutrition or dehydration, bedsores, clogged breathing tubes or feeding tubes, falls and choking.
It can be calming to know that your loved one is in good hands in a nursing home. However, during your regular visits, observe them and their surroundings to notice any sign of abuse or neglect. If they aren’t getting the care they deserve, make the right moves to protect them.
