With people living longer than ever, more and more of our family members and loved ones will spend time in a nursing home. Although most nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are reputable and provide good care for their residents, a few do not. Reported cases of abuse and neglect are increasing as the number of nursing home residents rise, and the elderly and infirm are often the least able to help themselves.
Although nursing homes are regulated by the State of Texas, which investigates and punishes hundreds of cases of abuse and neglect every year, state officials cannot be everywhere at once. Everyone with a friend or relative in a nursing home should be aware of certain danger signs and be ready to act if they appear.
Nursing Home Neglect Danger Signs
In nursing homes, the most common cause of neglect is the lack of sufficiently trained staff. With an eye on the bottom line, some facilities do not hire enough staff to properly care for their residents. Staffing shortages lead to overwork, and overwork and inexperience can lead to a breakdown in care. Neglect attributable to a lack of staff can include improper medication, failure to assist the residents with their hygiene, failure to turn the residents (leading to bedsores), and failure to adequately provide for the resident's safety and comfort.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
What are the signs of nursing home abuse or neglect to look out for? Read more about it in the TLA article "Signs of Nursing Home Abuse".
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