Nursing Home Abuse
If you have an aging loved one, you may turn to a Bridgeport nursing home in an effort to make sure that they get the care that they need. Nursing homes can be good options if your loved one can no longer take care of themselves or if they need advanced medical care that your family cannot provide on your own. However, while nursing homes are meant to help the elderly, issues such as neglect and abuse can occur in them. Here, you can learn more about Bridgeport nursing home neglect and abuse, how to prevent it, and what to do if your loved one is abused.
What is Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse?
Nursing home neglect and abuse are terms that refer to the mistreatment of elderly people who reside in long-term care facilities. Oftentimes, these facilities are nursing homes, but they could also be other facilities such as residential care facilities, assisted living facilities, etc. Although the most commonly thought of form of abuse is physical, mistreatment could take on other forms, such as financial abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and more.
Another issue that the elderly can face in Bridgeport nursing homes is neglect. Neglect includes a failure to provide basic needs to a facility patient. In some cases, a patient may participate in self-neglect, in which they fail to care for themselves. A care facility should notice and correct this behavior, or they may be accused of neglect as well. These behaviors can lead to serious harm or even death for those in the care of the facility.
Preventing Neglect and Abuse
Nursing home neglect and abuse is a serious problem. It can have a serious impact on the well-being of the elderly. It is important for family members and loved ones to be vigilant in monitoring the care provided by long-term care facilities. If you don’t feel right about something or have concerns, you should report it to be safe. Make sure to communicate regularly with your loved one in the nursing home and visit often. The more you stay in touch with your loved one, the more likely you are to notice anything out of the ordinary and potentially dangerous.
Reporting Neglect and Abuse
If you think that your loved one has been neglected or abused in a Bridgeport care facility, you should notify the nursing staff as well as the appropriate authorities, such as the police, Adult Protective Services, your local Ombudsman, and more. Next, it is a good idea to get legal advice on the situation from a Bridgeport neglect and abuse lawyer. A lawyer can review your family’s situation and help you figure out the right course of action given your situation.
While this can be an overwhelming and frightening situation, it is a good idea to act as soon as possible. Remove your loved one from the facility if you can, document everything that has happened, and contact the authorities for help. If you need further assistance at this time, we are here for you. Contact us for more information.