Nursing Home Abuse Red Flags to Watch Out For

The vagaries and difficulties of old age are well documented. Unfortunately, it seems like every day we live past 25, everything becomes a little bit harder; a little more complicated than it used to be, with less energy to bear, and less time on our hands.

Those far advanced in age, however, find it even harder than we do. For this reason, an estimated 21,000 nursing homes exist in the United States, taking care of over 1.5 million elderly patients that need an increased level of care and attention.

Not everything is prim and proper, though. Despite our best intentions, nursing homes aren’t the places of love and healing we’d like to imagine them as. The truth is that many such locations are plagued by abusive staff members who are not mentally and emotionally prepared to caretake the elderly.

In fact, it is estimated that one-quarter of all nursing homes operate in conditions that make it likely for residents to develop injuries and illnesses.

Here are several red flags you need to watch out for if you or a loved one are currently spending time in a nursing home. See more info here!

1. Poor Hygiene

An extremely clean and well-maintained environment is an utmost necessity when it comes to nursing homes. They must be able to sustain a decent population without deteriorating into a cesspool where bacteria and viruses fester.

If the facility you are considering appears to suffer from a lack of cleanliness, then that is a huge red flag. This also applies to residents; if the elderly do not appear to be properly groomed and taken care of as their personal hygiene standards demand, then there is the likelihood that some form of abuse is going on, whether active or passive.

A lack of hygiene could point to employee laziness, a low level of care and dedication, or a sparse amount of available resources. In short, look for another nursing home.

2. High Staff Turnover

The happiness of nursing home employees is as much of a suggestion as a dirty environment. If the staff appears to be generally unhappy, not sporting the smiling, go-lucky attitude that nursing homes often require - or, even worse, appear to be downright dejected - then that is a sure sign of a bad operation.

Employees that quit their job after the first few months often suggest there is something wrong with the nursing home, such as a poor salary, subpar management, or a general lack of care. To make matters worse, high staff turnover means that the nursing home is most likely understaffed as well, which means that the needs of some residents are going to be ignored.

3. Patient Complaints

It can be difficult to satisfy an older person who is going through a lot of suffering. Some, for example, are perpetually cranky, leaving others to doubt whenever they make complaints. With that being said, complaints from residents should be taken seriously and listened to closely, as there might be truth behind them.

The complaints can be anything from a cold and uncaring staff to poor food. In the case of the former, you must make sure not to directly confront the abuser, as they might choose to retaliate against the source of the complaint. Contact the director of the nursing home, the police, or a legal team to assist you once you’ve gathered enough information and evidence.

Your Last Years, in Danger

Life is difficult. We labor for most of it and await old age with bated breath, hoping that all of our worries are going to disappear and that we’ll finally be free to do whatever we want. To some, this means being a resident of a nursing home, spending the last of our days through relaxation and recreation.

Unfortunately, your actual experience can be dramatically different. The risk of suffering abuse in a nursing home is high, with 1 in 6 elderly residents over 60 claiming to have been abused.

The solution? Arm yourself with the proper legal knowledge to defend yourself and your loved ones.