 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
How
prevalent is nursing home neglect?
1.6
million Americans reside in over 16,000 nursing homes
across this country. A 1998 study conducted by the U.S.
General Accounting Office (GAO) concluded that more
than half of the suspicious deaths studied in nursing
homes were probably due to nursing home neglect, including
malnutrition and dehydration. Unreported instances of
abuse must also be taken under consideration when evaluating
this statistic.
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
Choosing
a Nursing Home
It
is important to choose a nursing home carefully to ensure
your loved one is properly cared for. Asking questions and
looking for signs are important steps in nursing home abuse
prevention, and multiple visits to the facility at different
times should be considered. When looking at different nursing
home facilities here are a few factors that should be evaluated:
- Are
the nursing home and the current administrator licensed?
- Does
the home conduct background checks on all staff?
- Does
the home have special services units?
- Does
the facility have nursing home abuse prevention training?
As
with any important decision, by doing your homework you can
help put your mind at ease with your final decision. Some
other useful tips in nursing home abuse prevention include:
- The
nursing home and its administrator should be licensed by
the State to operate.
- Do
the nursing home’s procedures to screen potential employees
for a history of abuse meet your State’s requirements? Your
State’s Ombudsman program might be able to help you with
this information.
- Some
nursing homes have special service units like rehabilitation,
Alzheimer's, and hospice. Learn if there are separate waiting
periods or facility guidelines for when residents would
be moved on or off the special unit.
- Do
the nursing home’s training programs educate employees about
how to recognize resident abuse and neglect, how to deal
with aggressive or difficult residents, and how to deal
with the stress of caring for so many needs? Are there clear
procedures to identify events or trends that might lead
to abuse and neglect, and on how to investigate, report,
and resolve your complaints?
- Are
there policies or procedures to safeguard resident possessions?
Other
things to notice while visiting the potential nursing home
facility is:
- How
do other nursing home residents appear to get along with
the staff?
- Does
the staff know the individual names of different nursing
home residents?
- Do
the staff members appear responsive to the needs of the
nursing home residents?
- Are
the nursing home residents properly dressed?
- Are
there different activities for the nursing home residents
that incorporate different interests?
- How
is the quality and assortment of food?
- Does
the nursing home incorporate the community into their facility?
- Does
the staff actively participate in recognizing the nursing
home resident’s interests?
- Does
the nursing home facility allow family participation in
the resident’s care plan?
- Does
the nursing home facility have specific programs or units
to fit the special needs that the resident may need?
- Is
the nursing home facility clean and orderly?
- Are
there any strange odors present in the nursing home?
- Are
the nursing home residents allowed to have personal items,
like pictures, in their possession?
There
are federal laws that require certain information to be provided
to each resident. This includes a personalized health and
care plan, conducting an initial assessment of each resident’s
functional capacity and continue to reassess them, maintaining
a resident’s basic rights, and preventing and treating bed
sores. If nursing home abuse is present immediate investigation
of the matter should be launched. If you
have any questions regarding safety concerns and nursing home
prevention at a facility contact us.
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
| |
|
|
IMPORTANT
|
|
| |
|
|
There
are different forms of nursing home neglect and abuse that
can affect nursing home residents. Mental abuse, physical
abuse, nursing home neglect, and exploitation/financial
abuse can occur and is often characterized by certain signs.
Neglect. bed sores (decubitus ulcers), unsanitary
environment, malnutrition, dehydration, smells of urine
and/or feces, unkempt appearance, poor personal hygiene,
untreated medical condition, specific complaints by residents
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
