5 Exceptional Ways to Prevent Elder Nursing Home Mistreatment

Have your loved ones faced abuse or neglect at a nursing home in Des Moines? If it’s elderly parents who have been admitted to the facility, nursing home mistreatment is a serious issue these days! Elderly abuse can take various forms, including psychological, sexual, physical, emotional, and financial. Irrespective of the abuse type, it’s vital to hire nursing home abuse lawyers in Des Moines. 

If the nursing home where your loved one fails to fulfill its obligation to safeguard their health & safety, click here to learn everything about hiring an abuse lawyer. Today, this article will discuss 5 remarkable ways to prevent elder abuse in a nursing home.

• Daily visit your loved one

The most crucial way to prevent elder abuse is by constantly checking up on their health by visiting the nursing home they’re admitted to. Motivating other family members and mates to see them regularly provides maximum emotional support and lets you assess their well-being & observe any prospective signs of neglect or abuse.  

• Keeps tabs on prescribed medications 

Like the nurse in Des Moines, Iowa, there are several instances of burglary, fraud, or misuse of prescription drugs. Therefore, checking what your loved one is being prescribed and why is vital. Doing so will allow you to obtain a good understanding of if a patient is being overmedicated. CMS has discovered that 14% of nursing home patients filed lawsuits for antipsychotic treatment. 

Among those, 83% were for “off-label use,” implying they were administered for an unauthorized condition or age group. Moreover, keeping tabs on prescribed treatment can help determine if a caregiver or a nurse is stealing or misusing the medication. Hence, always stay vigilant of your loved one’s condition.

• Maintain clear communication with staff

Maintaining a positive relationship with the nursing home professionals is vital in ensuring your elder parent’s well-being and safety. Daily interaction with the medical professionals liable for your loved one’s care ensures they remain vigilant of any particular concerns or needs. Having trust and sustaining open lines of communication can prevent any potential issues from growing into neglect or abuse. 

• Thoroughly research and visit nursing homes

Before admitting your loved one to a nursing home, it’s vital to perform research on the available options. Schedule in-person visits to care facilities to understand the ambiance, employees, and surroundings. Keep your eyes on staff interactions with residents, security protocols, and sanitation. Moreover, don’t forget to go through online reviews and state investigation records to obtain a complete notion of the quality of care.  

• Be mindful of the slightest changes in a loved one’s mood or appearance

To prevent nursing home abuse, you must take notice of your loved one’s mood or appearance changes. If something goes wrong, you must trust your perception and stay attentive. Take advantage of your visits to get more time with your loved one and discover how their social life is progressing. 

Ask them how they appreciate the treatment facility and whether they have had any adjustments to their medications during this period. By taking these steps, you can stop your loved one and other residents at the care facility from being exploited, victimized, or disregarded.

Conclusion 

Preventing elder abuse in nursing care facilities needs proper management, surveillance, advocacy, and education from family and friends of patients. By analyzing and visiting a potential nursing home, daily checking up on your loved one, and taking legal action against the nursing home authority if neglect happens, you can ensure the best care your loved one deserves. Nursing home abuse lawyers are devoted to pursuing justice for your family member if you have been hurt due to another person’s negligence.