As your parents or loved ones age, they typically need more care and attention. After moving them to a nursing home, you expect that the staff there will take care of them and help them with their physical needs.
However, this may not always be the case. By learning to tell when nursing home abuse is happening, you can detect when your loved one is possibly suffering.
Bruises and cuts
According to the National Institute on Aging, elderly people who are trying to hide bruises, cuts or other marks on their skin may be trying to avoid conversations about abuse. If you notice them constantly wearing long sleeves even when it is warm outside, it could be a sign of this problem.
Lack of personal items
When talking with your loved one, you may notice that they do not have their eyeglasses or any other items they need to move around or see near them. This detail may help you understand what the staff does when you are not here, such as withholding help or replacements for necessary personal items.
Messy appearance
Older people typically need help bathing, which means that they may not be able to wash their own hair or get clean clothes without help from the staff. If you see your loved one wearing clothes with stains or tears on them or dealing with unclean hair, it could be a sign the staff does not assist or care for them.
No matter what kind of problem you notice with your elderly parents or loved ones, being alert is the first step to noticing nursing home abuse.
