How to Challenge Harm and Abuse in a Care Home

Nursing Home Abuse. Just the mention of the term makes people stomach turn. However it is more prevalent than most people think. This is not to say there are not quality nursing homes throughout the United States. But there are facilities that cover up and disregard abuse daily. So how do you as a family member challenge harm and abuse to your loved one behind the scenes at a nursing home? We have six tips that you can use.

1.Visit Daily
2.Take Pictures
3.Visit with the Ombudsman
4.Know Your Rights
5.Listen to your Loved One
6.Talk with Other Families

One of the best ways that you can challenge harm and abuse in the nursing home is to be consistent in coming to see your loved one. Nursing home staff know the families that are involved and tend to take better care of the residents that have family support. Not only must you go daily, but go at various time. This keeps the staff on their toes because they don't know when you will arrive.

Taking pictures upon admission of your loved one is another suggestion. This creates a "baseline" condition of your family member. You can use these pictures to compare to any injuries that you may encounter during your daily visits. If you do find any injuries, take pictures of this as well. A cell phone with photo taking ability makes this very easy to do.

The ombudsman is a person or agency that has been contracted by the state to visit nursing homes frequently and report about any conditions, good or bad, that might be encountered during their visit. The visit with families and residents as well as meet with the administrator of the facility. Get to know the ombudsman that is assigned to the facility that your loved one is in. Get their phone number and have it handy in the event there are abuse issues that come up.

Resident rights are a federally mandated list of obligations that the nursing home must adhere to. Such rights include a right to privacy, a right to respect, and freedom from abuse and neglect. Make sure that you are familiar with your loved ones rights in the nursing home. Upon admission, you should get a list of these rights. If not ask social services for a copy or find more information at the Medicare nursing home website.

Another important tip is to listen to your loved one. You may think that your loved one has dementia and doesn't make sense anymore. Listen anyway. There are often comments imbedded in their conversation that gives you clues to how they are being treated? Do they talk about the evil witch that chases them during a rainstorm? Maybe they are referring to the rude nursing aide that gives them their showers.

Finally, talk with other families that have loved ones in the nursing home. You can compare notes with them as well as talk about certain staff and problems that are encountered. Consider joining the family council that meets once a month to voice concerns to the nursing home administration.