Nursing home Neglect

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As your loved ones grow older, sometimes you are unable to provide them the care that they need. They might need a little extra care that you just can’t do. They may need a more watchful eye where they can’t live alone anymore. It is heartbreaking when it comes to this point but you want to have their needs met. 

When my Grandma Rose was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, I was one of her main care givers. She reached the point where she needed more medical care. We found an assisted living facility and she moved in. We weren’t happy with the  facility so, we decided to move her back in with us. There wasn’t one thing we didn’t like in particular, it just wasn’t the right place. We found out a week later that someone was able to leave and froze to death on the front lawn. We ended up finding another place for her as her medical needs became more apparent. It was a great place for her. Not every place is as good as it should be. 

Unfortunately, not every place that is licensed is a good place. There are some instances of abuse, thankfully they are not common. There are however quite a few instances of neglect. I have sadly learned this first hand. One of my friends has both his mom and grandma in nursing homes. They are on their third nursing home.

 Residents have to wait quite a while to have their needs met. I am not talking about getting them their photo albums or knitting, I am talking about changing them and making sure they have their basic needs met. Sometimes a call button is turned off and the aides walk away for forty five minutes before the resident gets what they need. 

Nursing homes are grossly understaffed. That can be due to not having applicants apply or state minimums. In my state, it’s 13 residents to 1 nurse and there is no state minimum for aides. That makes me wonder if some of the aides that are hired don’t really care about the residents and could hurt them because they are frustrated because they are angry. It makes me sick to even think about it. 

When you suspect your loved one has been abused or neglected, you need to hire a personal injury attorney. Look for one that specializes in Elder Law like  Kinney, Fernandez, & Boire P.A. They will help be the voice for your loved one. 

Know the signs of Elder Abuse. Document every instance of mistreatment. Opt for sending emails along with phone calls. If you have it in writing, you can prove that you put them on notice. I think it would be a good idea to get everything in writing. 

Move them to a new place for their safety. Some people can get mad when they are called out. They might start messing with the patient by spilling their drink or withholding help. It will also make it apparent that it’s not a good place for your loved one. Do your research and find a better nursing home for them to live. 

Report them to Adult Protective Services. When a report is made, the state will look in to it and investigate. As always, follow the advice from your attorney. I really hope no one ever has to deal with this.