Attorney for Negligence Cases at Heritage Health Mendota

The best way for families and individuals to protect nursing home residents from abuse is to select a facility with proven quality caregiving. Facilities with good staffing practices, high ratings, and fair health inspection reports are most likely to support good living conditions for vulnerable residents.

To find such a nursing home, you must first become familiar with what facilities are available to you in your community. You can ask for recommendations from family, acquaintances, doctors, or social workers. A simple internet search can help you too. There may also be community authorities you can ask, such as your local senior and community activity center or a government program that supports senior citizens.

Once you have identified your local nursing homes, research each one and begin comparing them to each other. You should look at the ratings and inspection reports on medicare.gov, as well as other websites that have resident reviews or even news stories for the facilities you’re interested in. Additionally, you can also try calling your local long-term care ombudsman, state health department, or state licensing agency to ask if they have more information on nursing homes in your area.

In your research you will probably come across company websites for the nursing homes you’re considering. These sites can tell you what services and amenities they offer, but you should take their promises of excellent care with a grain of salt. Every business tries to make themselves look like the best. Don’t fall for good marketing; rely on unbiased resources to inform you decision.

Eventually, you should whittle down a list of select nursing homes to choose from. The final test is how impressed you are with them in person. Schedule tours with each one so you can see for yourself how well each facility is maintained, how friendly the staff are, and if you notice any blatant red flags. This is also the perfect opportunity to ask questions about staff qualifications and ratio to residents, how the facility handles complaints, and other concerns.

After doing your due diligence, you should be confident in selecting the best nursing home to fit your needs and provide a safe, comfortable home. However, in the relief of finally making a decision, there is little room for complacency. Even the best nursing home can have isolated cases of abuse or neglect, so don’t expect to let you guard totally down any time soon.

If you or a family member has finally moved into assisted living, make sure you keep in contact and plan for frequent visits with loved ones. Residents who are isolated from friends and family are at more risk for abuse and often struggle to report abuse if it happens. Both residents and family members should learn the signs of abuse so they are better prepared to report it.

Start with these common signs:

• 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

Nursing home abuse is tragic and dangerous. If you or a loved one ever suspect or experience abuse at a nursing home, take action right away. Follow the facility’s procedures for filing a grievance, and contact someone in charge like a staff supervisor or the facility administrator. They should take swift action to rectify the situation and prevent further incidence.

However, all too often poor management lies at the root of abusive situations, and administrators may be slow to verify abuse at their facility. If an authority figure is unwilling to address concerns or take appropriate action, you can seek outside help from a doctor, a state agency, or your local long-term care ombudsman.

Nursing home abuse is known to potentially cause serious harm, injury, and even death to vulnerable residents. If this is your experience, your situation may also warrant legal action.