Choosing the right nursing home facility can help protect loved ones from elder abuse and neglect. Thoroughly interviewing caregivers and staff, as well as researching the record of the caregiver facility to determine whether there is a history of abuse and neglect is vital. The more detailed the research, the less likely the loved one will become one of the millions of elderly Americans who suffer abuse every year.
Interviews and Examinations
It is critical to meet in-person with caregivers and management. Families and responsible parties should be prepared to ask “the hard questions.” This includes discussing the qualifications of the caregivers and personnel within the facility and determining whether they have the necessary skills to properly provide care to the individual. It is crucial to evaluate staffing ratios, facility certification, specialized training, treatment procedures, and staff turnover.
It is also imperative to conduct a detailed visual inspection of the facility. Common areas, medical rooms, aid stations, bedrooms, dining facilities, etc. should be clean and orderly. While touring the facility, families should pay close attention to the mood and lifestyle of residents, and how they interact with staff. These can be good indications of whether or not elder abuse may be present.
Keeping a Connection
Whenever possible, it is advisable to choose an elder care facility that is nearby. This makes it possible to conduct regular check-in’s. Monitoring the facility reduces the potential for elder abuse and it can have a significant impact on the individual’s mental health and quality of life. The stronger the individual’s connection to family and friends, the more likely they are to report abusive situations. When the facility is nearby, it makes it easier to respond quickly and effectively to situations that may become abusive.
Handling Abuse
Detailed documentation should be kept when abuse is suspected. This includes logs of phone calls, copies of emails/correspondence, and any photographs or eyewitness statements that confirm the abuse whether it is physical, sexual, verbal, or financial. When abuse happens, nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers can help clients extricate the loved one from the situation and pursue compensation to recover damages for physical, financial, or emotional injuries stemming from the abuse.
