Nursing home abuse is a horrifying reality of today’s time, and it mostly affects the country’s senior citizens. When you place your elderly loved ones in a nursing home, you expect the staff to care for and treat them with respect and empathy. And in fact, it is the job of nursing homes to do so. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
If you suspect your loved one has been experiencing abuse in their nursing home, you should look for a few warning signs. Some obvious signs may be weight loss, unhappiness, and unusual injuries. It is important to know the common signs of nursing home abuse so you can recognize them immediately when it happens.
Nursing home abuse signs to look out for
- Malnutrition/dehydration.
The human requires an adequate amount of water every day to function properly. Water gets out of the body through urination, sweating, and bowel movements. These are important human body processes, and when dehydration happens, your body does not function correctly, which leads to complications. Symptoms of dehydration include the following:
- Breathing fast
- Infrequent urination
- Being thirsty
- Confusion and irritability
- Delirium
- Inability to sweat
- Dark yellow urine
- Low blood pressure
- Dry or papery skin
- A sticky and dry mouth
- Changes in emotional or behavioral state.
If your elderly loved one has appeared sad or depressed, something is wrong. The National Institute of Aging states that when senior citizens start looking unhappy, the reason is usually that someone has been mistreating them.
Signs of nursing home abuse can include depression, anxiety, lack of interest in activities or hobbies they once liked, confusion, and agitation. They may even experience withdrawal from relationships and spend less time with family members.
- Fractures.
Fractures and bruises are common signs of abuse in nursing homes. After all, if a nursing home takes proper care of its residents, these accidents should not be happening to them. Fractures are often caused due to slips or trip-and-fall accidents, which can prove fatal for senior citizens. It is the duty of the nursing home staff to ensure that none of their residents experience such accidents and maintain a safe and fall-free environment.
- Unclean conditions.
If your loved one looks like they have not showered or bathed in a long time, or their hair looks dirty, or their teeth look like they need brushing, it might be a sign that the nursing home staff is not taking care of their hygiene. This could be a sign of nursing home abuse and neglect.