We all want our loved ones to be safe and adequately cared for, but sometimes, abuse can happen even in secure and supervised environments like nursing homes.
What constitutes nursing home abuse?
Any act intended to hurt a resident physically, sexually, mentally, emotionally, socially or financially is abuse. Nursing home abuse can also manifest through:
- Medication errors: Nursing home staff giving the wrong medication or dosage.
- Medical neglect: Staff, doctors and nurses not being fully aware of a patient’s medical history may result in complications and sometimes death. Bed sores may occur when an orderly leaves an immobile patient for extended periods unattended.
- Insufficient safety protocols: When the facility is unsafe, unhygienic, and unkept, accidents are bound to happen.
- Failure to provide routine care: The nursing home rarely provides adequate food and water, or patients do not have clean clothes and mattresses.
How can I report a nursing home for neglect?
Although elder abuse in nursing homes and long-term care facilities is a prevalent problem, it often goes unreported, especially if the victims are unaware that they are victims of abuse. If you suspect your family member is experiencing abuse, you may report it to local law enforcement agencies or your state’s Adult Protective Services (APS) agency for further investigation.
Ensure you have the facts to prove the abuse and the evidence supporting it. This may include victim and witness statements, photos of actual injuries like bruises and cuts, CCTV camera footage and the victim’s medical records. A legal professional can better help your case if you decide to report it to authorities as they have more knowledge and experience in navigating the complexities of elder law.