With nursing home abuse on the rise, you cannot be too careful about the nursing home you select for yourself or a loved one. While there is no single indicator of a bad nursing home, and while even the very best nursing homes occasionally inadvertently hire a bad employee, there are signs you can watch out for, which may be indicators of nursing home abuse.
Below are a few signs to be on the lookout for when evaluating a nursing home.
SIGNS OF A BAD NURSING HOME
POOR STAFF SUPPORT
Do you see the staff interacting well? Are they supportive of each other and ready to lend a hand? If you notice that the nursing home staff is showing poor support of each other or for their patients, this may be a red flag. Poor staff support may include:
- Staff not interacting with the residents
- Staff may spend their time standing around
- Unanswered calls for help
- Lack of help with eating
HIGH TURNOVER
You will want your loved one to have caregivers who he or she knows and can come to trust. A nursing home with constant staff turnover will not be able to provide that. Furthermore, nursing homes with a constant turnover may have underlying problems not readily apparent.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY PLACED YOUR LOVED ONE IN A NURSING HOME
While it is important to carefully inspect nursing homes ahead of time, you should stay vigilant after you place your loved one in a nursing home. Watch for signs that may be indicators of abuse. These signs can include, but are not limited to:
- Significant changes in the behavior of your loved one, such as bursts of anger or despair
- Bruises on the skin, particularly on wrists or ankles, that may indicate the use of physical restraints
- Scratches on the skin
- Irrational fear of nursing home staff
Watch for these signs and ask questions. Do not rush to judgment but do ask the staff for additional information. Watch for staff that is evasive, deflects questions, puts the blame on you, or chooses not to investigate to find the answers to your questions about “what happened to cause this?” If your loved one stumbled and fell, and this accounts for the bruise, this should be documented.
SUSPECT YOUR LOVED ONE IS BEING ABUSED OR NEGLECTED IN A NURSING HOME? SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION
If you suspect your loved one is being either abused or neglected in a nursing home, speak with the nursing home abuse attorneys at Miller Kory Rowe LLP. We work hard on our clients’ behalf, seeking compensation for the costs of medical bills, pain and suffering, and compensation for disfigurement or disability.
Call (602) 648-4045 today for a free consultation. We will discuss the specific facts and circumstances that concern you about your loved one’s care. Should you have a case, we will work with you to take the appropriate actions, including stopping the abuse and making sure others do not suffer the same fate in the future.