Alden Princeton Nursing Rehab Center Negligence Attorneys

Elder abuse and neglect come in many forms. The nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at Levin & Perconti have personally seen cases of everything on this list and more:

• Medication Errors
• Burns
• Malnutrition and/or Dehydration
• Physical or Sexual Assault or Abuse
• Wandering and Elopement from facilities
• Unauthorized Physical and/or Chemical Restraint Use

While our attorneys are experts at handling these kinds of cases, we believe that it should never come to that. That’s why Levin & Perconti shares the tips you’ll find below to help you keep your elderly loved one safe in assisted living.

Our first tip is to pick a highly rated nursing home. You can do this by researching ratings online through government websites like medicare.gov. You can also look for online reviews of local nursing homes posted by current or previous residents and their families.

When you identify some promising facilities, we suggest you schedule tours so you can see the properties yourself. On these tours, note things like cleanliness and how staff interact with residents. Bring a list of questions with you concerning aspects of care that would pertain to your loved one so you can learn about specific protocols.

After you select a nursing home and your relative moves in, stay in close contact so you can monitor their care and they can report harmful activity to you. Visiting is the best way to do this, as it allows you to see your family member’s living conditions yourself.

Many victims of abuse cannot or will not report hurtful behavior, so you should be aware of the signs of abuse. There are many, but you can start with these:

• Untreated severe bedsores
• Unexplained injuries like bruises, burns, or scars
• Evidence of poor circulation like sunken cheeks or eyes
• Weight loss or malnourishment not due directly to an illness
• Frequent trips to the emergency room or doctor
• Wrong type or the wrong amount of medication administered
• Poor hygiene or unwashed clothes or hair
• Instances of wandering or elopement
• Frequently misplaced or lost personal items
• A lack of basic necessities, including utilities, water, and food
• A dirty room or bathroom
• Frequent trouble sleeping
• Unusual violent or withdrawn behavior
• Sudden depression or confusion
• Signs of trauma like rocking back and forth