At Kentucky Elderlaw, PLLC, in Bowling Green, we have dedicated ourselves to advocating for the rights of the elderly. Consequently, we represent many people whose parent or other loved one has suffered nursing home abuse.
We, therefore, thought it would be a good idea to tell you here on our blog about NextAvenue.com’s top six red flags that your loved one, too, has become the victim of nursing home abuse.
- Injuries
When you visit your loved one in his or her nursing home, make sure (s)he shows no signs of bruising, sores, cuts or other injuries. If (s)he does, ask as many questions, both of him/her and his/her caregivers, as you need to in order to understand exactly what happened and how it happened.
- Hygiene
Your loved one should always appear clean, well groomed and appropriately dressed every time you see him/her. You should never smell mouth or body odor. Nor should you ever observe dirty clothing, overly long fingernails or toenails, excessively mussed hair, etc.
- Living conditions
In addition to your loved one’s body and clothing, his/her room likewise should be clean and orderly, with nothing on the floor that could trip him/her. Pay particular attention to his/her bathroom. Is it spotless? Can you smell any lingering odors? Do you see any mold?
- Nutrition
Your loved one should always appear well fed and well hydrated. If (s)he complains about being hungry or thirsty, listen to what (s)he has to say. Do not simply assume that (s)he is “old and grumpy.”
- Mobility
Even if your loved one is old and frail, the nursing home should still see to it that (s)he gets as much exercise as possible. (S)he should never lie in bed or sit in a wheelchair for hours on end without frequent changes of position.
- Psychological health
Even if your loved one suffers from dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or another condition that limits his/her cognitive abilities, (s)he nevertheless should appear reasonably happy or at least content. If (s)he seems unusually quiet or uncommunicative, this can indicate depression brought about by poor treatment.
For further information, please visit this page on our website.
