It's never easy to make the choice to put your parent in a nursing home. When you do choose a nursing home for your parent, you want to know that they'll be well-cared for. Finding out that your parent may be the victim of nursing home abuse can be difficult to process. Before you can move forward to protect your parent, you need to make sure that your suspicions are correct. If you suspect that your parent is the victim of nursing home abuse, take the following actions to identify and rectify the situation:
Don't Schedule Your Visits
If your concerned that your parent is being abused by staff at their nursing home, you need to take measures to stop the abuse. The first thing you need to do is make unscheduled visits. Scheduling your visits makes it easier to hide the abuse, or prepare for the visits. However, when you make it a habit to drop in unannounced, you have a better chance of preventing the abuse, and also, of discovering evidence to identify the abuse. For instance, when you drop in, you may be able to find fresh injuries or find your parent lying in soiled bed sheets. While you never want to see your parent in that condition, you do want to obtain evidence of the abuse.
Request New Nursing Care
If you suspect that it's one particular caregiver who's mistreating your parent, request new nursing care. It's also important that you file a complaint with the nursing home administrator as soon as you have reason to believe that your parent is being mistreated, or abused. If the administrator refuses to change nursing care, let them know that you'll be looking into alternate care facilities for your parent.
Be Present During Meal Time
If your parent has been losing weight, and you suspect that they're being denied their meals, be present during meal time. Look at the portions that are being served, and make sure your parent is being given ample time to finish their meals. Once you've been present for mealtime, start showing up several minutes after mealtime has begun. This will give you the opportunity to make sure your parent is in the dining room, or in their room, with food in front of them.
Seek Legal Assistance
If your attempts to obtain better treatment for your parent has fallen on deaf ears, you'll need to seek legal assistance. This is particularly important if you've seen signs of abuse such as fresh wounds, or missed meals. Be sure to speak to an attorney who is experienced in handling elder abuse cases.
Contact a law office like the Garrison Law Firm for more information and assistance.
Share6 October 2017
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