Enjoying the Holidays in Nursing Homes
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Protecting Our Seniors From Abuse & Neglect
The Nursing Home Abuse Center (NHAC) was founded on time-honored principles of restoring dignity for some of our most vulnerable and valuable citizens. Before we can begin to resolve the issue of nursing home abuse, we must understand what it is.
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Nursing home abuse happens all too often against seniors under the protection of a licensed care facility. Professional support staff may act may violently or abusively toward their residents.
Physical and sexual abuse may not only result in physical injuries but emotional and psychological symptoms as well. Signs of abuse to watch out for include unexplained bruising, injuries, broken bones, signs of restraints, broken eyeglasses, or obvious fear of certain staff members who may be perpetrating the abuse.
Nursing home neglect is another pervasive issue in facilities across America that can have deadly consequences. Nursing home neglect often involves care staff willfully ignoring their residents and failing to fulfill their job duties.
Signs of neglect to watch out for include dehydration, bedsores, malnutrition, and inconsistent or incorrect medication administration. You may also notice your loved exhibiting unusual behaviors, a sign of continued social isolation.
Not all types of abuse or neglect are physical. Many nursing home residents face emotional or financial abuse at the hands of staff members or even other residents. Emotional abuse includes verbal threats, public humiliation or social isolation. Financial abuse includes theft or fraud. It’s the duty of nursing care staff to provide a safe environment free of abuse, even when the perpetrators are other residents.
The Nursing Home Abuse Center (NHAC) was founded on the principles of dignity and respect for some of the most vulnerable citizens — seniors. Seniors have built a society of law, order, and protection that we all enjoy today. They fought wars against tyranny, supported equality and built families and businesses that changed our world.
It’s time for us to protect them from abuse perpetrated in what should be the safest of places. NHAC is a free online resource designed to inform and encourage improvements to the status quo. Let’s stand together and protect our seniors.
Abuse in a nursing home or assisted living is an ugly reality that often goes unnoticed. With so many different types of elder abuse, it can be difficult to know exactly what to look for. Beyond obvious physical symptoms like broken bones, there are many other signs of nursing home abuse that family members need to be aware of. Family members may be able to spot signs of nursing home abuse and neglect over time.
Signs can include the resident developing bedsores, emitting unhygienic odors and dwindling overall health levels. Sexual or emotional abuse may be detectable when the elderly person begins to withdraw, stops communicating and becomes fearful of being left alone with certain care staff or other people. Additional signs of abuse and general mistreatment can include the resident having broken eyeglasses, dirty or soiled clothing or being unsuitably dressed for the weather. In some cases, the facility itself may indicate a poor environment.
Check for faulty electrical wiring, improperly functioning utilities or general lack of maintenance. It’s critical to be aware of the signs of elder abuse in a nursing home. Watching for signs can help stop abuse from worsening, and may even save your loved one’s life.
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