Detecting and Dealing with Nursing Home Neglect

Old age generally sneaks up on people. It’s not something that most people dream of, although you may dream of retirement. It simply happens.

Unfortunately, old age brings a new set of challenges; mobility and mental impairment are the most concerning. For some, this can mean it’s best to move into a nursing home. Naturally, this is a difficult decision to make.

You’ll probably have spent a lot of time looking at the options available, carefully trying to balance the financial cost and the level of care offered. What you don’t expect is that your loved one will experience neglect while in the nursing home.

It’s more common than you may think. According to statistics, in 2023, there were 7,600 health citations issued to nursing homes in the US. These were all connected with abuse and neglect. Of course, not all cases end in citations. It’s estimated as many as 16% of nursing home residents experience neglect.

Signs of Neglect

What quantifies as neglect? The dictionary defines it as “any intentional or negligent act by a caregiver which causes or creates a risk of serious harm.” Several signs suggest your loved one is experiencing neglect:

·         They tell you that they are being put at risk (this is rare as, for  many senior citizens, it is embarrassing)

·         Unexplained bruises and fractures appear

·         Your loved one is losing weight rapidly, and it’s not illness-related

·         Personal hygiene is poor

·         The nursing home isn’t kept as clean as it should be

·         Your loved one is withdrawn or anxious all the time; this can be more evident when specific staff are around

What to Do When Neglect Is Suspected

It can be alarming, frustrating, and saddening to find that a loved one is being neglected. You may even feel guilty. What you need to do is take action.

·         Speak to your loved one

Your loved one may be embarrassed to talk about the issues. After all, they’ve probably spent their life sorting out their own problems.

The best approach is to ask them about it. You can tell them you know what is happening, and reassure them that it’s not okay and that you can help.

·         Document it

You should immediately document any signs of neglect. As painful as it may be, you’ll need to let the neglect continue for several days: it’s important to document the neglect happening on multiple occasions. The nursing home can’t then claim it was an unfortunate oversight.

·         Address The management

You can do this straight away, or you can wait until you have documentation. Your decision will depend on how extreme the neglect is.

You need to schedule a meeting with the nursing home management and bring your concerns to their attention. It’s important to put your grievance into writing and to demand a written response regarding what they will do. Federal legislation demands they have a grievance process in place.

If they fail to respond or correct the neglect, you should lodge a complaint with the long-term care ombudsman and the State Department of Health.

·         Contact a lawyer

Regardless of whether you receive a satisfactory response from the nursing home or not, it’s time to contact a lawyer. It’s advisable to contact a specialist in nursing home neglect cases.

Remember, it’s better to get a lawyer registered in the state where the nursing home is. Places like the Nursing Home Law Center have a lot of experience dealing with neglect cases. Unfortunately, this is because, of the 13 nursing homes in Atlanta, five of them have a below-average or poor rating. The remainder are only rated as providing average care.

It’s not just the number of cases a local firm is likely to have dealt with. They will better understand state laws and how to argue your case successfully.

·         Get Counseling

Your loved one should get professional counseling, even if they are reluctant to do so. There is an established link between chronic pain and depression. If your loved one is already in pain and then experiences neglect, they have an increased risk of depression.

Being depressed will damage their quality of life and increase the risk of a suicide attempt. Counseling will help them deal with the neglect and make the most of their life.

Reduce the Risk with Regular Visits

The best way to reduce the risk of neglect occurring is to visit your loved one regularly. The staff will know you visit often and that it will be difficult to disguise any neglect/abuse. That makes it less likely it will happen.

In addition, keeping your loved one as mobile as possible can help. They may not be ready to start running, but virtually anyone can try yoga.

Summing Up

Neglect isn’t something that should happen, but sadly, it is far too common in US nursing homes. If you’ve decided a nursing home is the best place for your loved one, vet it carefully, visit them often, and if you suspect neglect, take immediate action.

There are plenty of resources to help you and your loved one.

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