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How Nursing Home Abuse Effects Patients

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While nursing homes would never admit it, they are often understaffed. While some nurses prefer working in a skilled nursing home setting, others would never consider it as an option. If you asked a nurse working in a specialty care hospital about their working environment, they will probably say that it is fast-pace and stressful. Well, the same thing can be said about all health care settings, especially long-term care facilities. However, there is no excuse for abuse and neglect of patients living in these facilities.

Bed Sores

One of the most obvious signs of nursing home abuse is bed sores. These wounds are the result of poor care and nutrition. If you know someone who is living in a nursing home, you should assess their skin whenever possible. If a bed sore is detected, bring it to the nurse's attention immediately.

Non-Communicative Behavior

Many seniors are prepared to move into a nursing home because they do not have someone who is willing to care for them around the clock. While some of these individuals will find their new surrounding positive, others are not so lucky. Most nursing homes do their best to provide good care to their patients. However, many of them come up short. With that said, seniors who are admitted to long-term care facilities that lack the compassion, skills and equipment to provide the proper care will oftentimes find themselves dealing with abuse.

 

While some patients will not hesitate to alert their family and friends of the abuse, others will become isolated and non-communicative. If you detect a change in your mother, father or spouse's behavior, you should not hesitate to request a meeting with the director of nursing. Click here to learn more about nursing home abuse and your rights to sue for neglect.

Weight Loss

When most patients are admitted into a nursing home, they can feed themselves. Over time, this will no longer be a possibility. When patients are unable to feed themselves, they will be completely reliant on the nursing staff. Most nurses and CNAs do whatever is necessary to make sure their patients are provided three meals a day. Of course, this is not always the case. Believe it or not, there are some people who work in these health care settings that should not have been hired because they lack the compassion to care for people in need.

 

Weight loss is a sign of nursing home abuse. However, before you make a quick judgment, it is crucial to look at the entire picture. Weight loss may also be related to meal changes and lack of appetite.

Poor Personal Hygiene

The nursing staff is required to provide residents at least two baths per week. At bath time, the patient is transported to the shower room, where they will be cleaned from head-to-toe. Patients who are bedfast will receive a full bath with shampoo in their room. Poor hygiene is a red flag for abuse. If you notice that your family member's hair is dirty and unkempt, it may be time to call for a meeting with the director of nursing. Other signs of poor hygiene include body odor, dirty fingernails and skin rashes.