When you put a loved one in a nursing home, you hope he or she will receive adequate care. But this is not always the case, and many caretakers abuse or neglect seniors in their care.
According to the National Association of Nursing Home Attorneys, approximately 5 million seniors endure abuse or neglect every year. If you have a loved one in a nursing home, there are three types of neglect you should be aware of.
1. Medical neglect
Medical neglect happens when nursing home staff members do not meet resident needs for healthcare. This can look like the failure to administer medications, not moving seniors with mobility issues or not reporting signs of illness or infection to the medical team.
2. Social neglect
When staff members at a nursing home do not allow seniors to interact with others, social neglect occurs. For example, social neglect can happen when staff members do not provide wheelchairs or walkers to seniors with mobility limitations or isolate residents who are vulnerable.
3. Basic needs neglect
When basic needs neglect occurs, nursing home staff members do not meet the basic needs of the residents. Examples include not properly bathing seniors, failing to change resident clothing and not cleaning the rooms of residents regularly.
Medical, social and basic needs neglect can all have long-term consequences on your loved one. These consequences can range from worsening health issues, like weight loss, malnutrition and recurring injuries, to serious mental health issues, like loss of trust, depression and insomnia.
