Sadly, nursing home abuse is more common than it should be in North Carolina. The elderly and the infirm are some of the most vulnerable members of society. If this abuse is to be stopped, it is necessary to understand how and why it happens.
The signs of nursing home abuse
Although the vulnerable can be abused in many ways, this abuse tends to match certain patterns in the context of a nursing home. Specific signs can be evidence a patient has been victim to nursing home abuse. This can include things like:
- malnutrition
- dehydration
- depression
- anxiety
- sudden appearance of sexually transmitted diseases
- dirty clothing and bedding
- changes in power of attorney
- broken bones
- lack of cleanliness and personal hygiene
- bed sores
- untreated rashes and other ailments
The causes of nursing home abuse
Saving elders, the disabled and the infirm from this kind of abuse requires understanding why it happens. There is no one cause of patient neglect and abuse. However, certain factors can certainly contribute to creating an environment where it may occur. This includes lack of:
- individualized care for patients with different issues
- nursing home staff
- staff background checks
- staff training
- staff supervision
- high hiring standards
- incident reporting
- record keeping
- discipline policies for poor staff behavior
- communication between departments
In many cases, the patients of nursing homes are completely helpless when it comes to stopping the abuse and neglect perpetrated on them by the staff entrusted with their care. It’s incumbent for a just society to ensure that such abuse is prevented and wholly stamped out when the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect are detected.
