The Dangers of Retirement Home
It is imperative for your relative that you spend a substantial
amount of time investigate nursing homes prior to you sending
them to one. Do not judge the nursing home on the basis of a
directed visit or the pleasant furnishings or pretty material
features of the facility.
You should locate at least one occupant that you can visit in
the facility. This will assist you in assessing the facility
exclusive of a guided tour. Walk up and down the halls and talk
to bedridden people and individuals who are wheelchair bound. As
you converse with them, check out their grooming, skin quality,
nail care and oral care. See if the residents appear cheerful or
if they are down in the dumps. If nearly everybody you talk to
is bemused and not capable of not having a normal discussion,
this might be grounds for apprehension.
Because many nursing home residents have limited abilities to
communicate, identifying potential abuse requires careful
monitoring.
Look for the signs of nursing home abuse in your frequent visits
to the nursing home or assisted living facility.
Signs to look for if you think nursing home abuse or negligence
has occurred include the following: * Injuries requiring
emergency treatment or hospitalization * Any incident involving
broken bones, especially a fractured hip * Any injury or death
occurring during or shortly after an episode of wandering
(including outside the facility) when the staff is not aware
that the resident is missing for some period of time * Heavy
medication or sedation * Rapid weight loss or weight gain
without physician or family notification and a change in
treatment being provided * Unexplained or unexpected death of
the resident * One nursing home resident injures another
resident * Resident is frequently ill, and the illnesses are not
promptly reported to the physician and family