With advances in medical technology, health and science, American's are enjoying extended life spans. However, as the elderly grow older, they are often times in need of around-the-clock care. When their families can no longer provide the amount of attention and care they need, they will often look for a suitable nursing home or extended living care facility for their loved one.
Once the family finds a suitable nursing home - they typically breathe a sigh of relief. They can finally take comfort in knowing that their loved one will receive twenty-four hour care.
Nursing homes certainly have their function in society - they provide the elderly assistance with their everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning and shopping. When the elderly can no longer care for themselves, they help with feeding, bathing and medication.
Unfortunately with nursing homes, you have to take the good with the bad. Not all nursing homes are perfect, nor are their staff. Nursing home abuse and negligence is in fact a national problem, plaguing nursing homes across the nation. Even the finest facilities have had reports of abuse or neglect - making it a real concern no matter where you send your loved one.
The causes for nursing home abuse and neglect are broad - and the possibilities are endless. In some cases staff shortages can result in neglect, even with the best meaning caregivers. Other times facilities inadvertently hire sexual predators or dishonest people who financially exploit their prey.
The fact that nursing homes and extended living facilities are a hot bed for corruption cannot be ignored. Even the nicest facilities can mistakenly hire unscrupulous individuals. Therefore, as a concerned friend or family member, you must be informed about potential abuse and how to detect it.
What kinds of abuse occur within the walls of nursing homes and extended care facilities? The common forms of abuse include physical, sexual, emotional and financial exploitation.
Physical abuse can be defined as non-accidental use of physical force against an elderly person. Physical abuse can cause both pain and impairment for the elderly individual; in extreme cases, it can result in death if the injuries are severe or left untreated.
Physical abuse can also include the use of restraints or the inappropriate use of drugs resulting in incapacitation or heavy sedation. Physical abuse is perhaps the most obvious because its signs are apparent, however, other forms of abuse can be much more subtle.
Sexual abuse is non-consensual sexual contact and it happens more often than one might think. Sexual abuse can include unwanted touching or fondling or it can be rape. It can also including forcing someone to watch pornographic material or making them undress without cause.
Emotional abuse can happen in many ways. It can involve shouting, criticism or making threats. Another form of emotional abuse is social isolation which can affect someone's emotional wellbeing. Long periods of isolation can not only damage the person's emotional health, but it can lead to negligence as well.
Financial exploitation is a serious concern in nursing homes. Caregivers are frequently given access to personal checking account information, debit cards, credit cards and even cash. They can steal money in small subtle ways - by taking cash in small amounts or they can be so extreme as to deplete an entire bank account. Another concern is also identity theft. Caregivers can use their patient's social security number to take out credit cards and bank accounts in order to further exploit them.
If your loved one is going into a nursing home, you want to take extra care in making sure they do not become victims in their surroundings. Pay close attention to your loved one's demeanor. Are they happy there? Do they get along well with the caregivers? Look around the room, is it clean? Are their financials in order? If they complain that they are losing money, don't automatically assume that they are being forgetful. Also keep an eye out for unexplained bruising, foul odors or unkempt living quarters.
If any of these warning signs sound familiar, be sure to contact a personal injury attorney who is experienced in nursing home negligence cases. Your attorney will know what to look out for and how to determine legal liability. The health and safety of your loved one should be protected at all costs - the right Houston personal injury lawyer will help you do just that.
No comments:
Post a Comment