The decision to move a loved one into a nursing home is difficult for many families in Chicago. Families have many questions: Will my loved one be well cared for? How will my mother or father react to being moved into a nursing home? How can I make sure my loved one is not in any danger?
Fortunately, there are a number of steps families can take to assure their loved ones will receive proper care and not suffer from nursing home neglect. There are also many warning signs families can look out for in order to prevent their loved ones from becoming victims of nursing home abuse or neglect.
One way to make sure a loved one is receiving adequate care is to frequently visit family members who are living in nursing homes. Visits can certainly be planned for specific days and at specific times, but families might want to make a few unannounced visits, too.
When visiting loved ones, families should watch out for signs of abuse or neglect. Watch for incontinence, which can indicate staff not tending to the residents’ bathroom needs. Likewise, be aware of lack of personal care such as uncombed hair, teeth not brushed, or lack of bathing.
Other issues to watch for include dehydration, which may indicate lack of proper fluid intake, or malnutrition, suggesting that dietary requirements are not being met. Equally serious are signs of lack of motion from not getting enough exercise and any sudden loss of independence. Each nursing home resident has unique needs. Families should frequently review patients’ care plans in order to make sure their needs are being met.
Any one of these issues should prompt family members to take immediate action and contact the nursing home’s administrator to begin resolving the issues. If there is any indication of abuse or serious neglect, local authorities should also be contacted and families may want to consider seeking guidance from an attorney.
Source: NJ.com, “Your Legal Corner: Maximizing nursing home safety,” Victoria M. Dalton, Esq., Oct. 7, 2012
- Our firm represents patients who have been harmed by nursing home abuse or negligence. To learn more about protecting medical malpractice victims’ rights, please visit our Chicago nursing home abuse attorney page.
