Nursing home abuse and neglect is a serious concern. This can lead to pain, suffering, and harm that affects the well-being of elders residing in healthcare facilities.
Sometimes moving a loved one to a nursing home is a choice that people make because they are too busy with their life working and raising their own families. According to CDC, about 13% of people (1 in 8) age 85 or older live in a nursing home or long-term care facility, as compared to 1% of people aged 65 to 74. Among these people, there are 7% of abuse cases reported to authorities.
In California, there are approximately 1,250 licensed long-term care nursing facilities that house 400,000 people. The nursing facility occupancy rate in California is 87%.
Nursing home abuse is a serious concern that is reported to authorities which refers to intentional acts of harm, mistreatment, or exploitation inflicted upon residents by staff members or other residents. This can include physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect. Neglect, on the other hand, involves the failure to provide adequate care, attention, or necessary services to meet the resident’s physical, emotional, and medical needs.
Even if people opted to move their elders to a nursing home, they can still watch for their well-being to ensure that the elders get proper care and treatment. There are signs of nursing home abuse. For instance, physical abuse can be manifested in bruises, scars, broken eyeglasses, or refusal of the caregiver to allow you to be alone with your loved one. On the other hand, neglect can be observed in an unclean appearance, bedsores, unusual weight loss, or signs of dehydration.
This situation can be prevented. One might feel guilty or stressed because their loved one may suffer abuse and neglect in their nursing homes. But remember that abuse and neglect is not new problem in nursing homes. To reduce the likelihood that your loved one may be involved in abuse or neglect, you may appoint a guardian, review financial statements, and conduct unannounced visits.
California law includes the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act. If you suspect nursing home abuse in the state, do not hesitate to report it to authorities or consult any entity or lawyers who help in this kind of situation.