When your loved one stays at a nursing home, you want the staff to provide the best quality care for them. If that does not happen, you may not realize how bad the situation is until later on.
Detecting nursing home abuse can be tough if you do not know what signs to look for.
Increasingly withdrawn and sad reactions
According to the National Institute on Aging, you may notice your elderly parent or loved one refusing to talk with other people or staff members. This kind of quiet behavior may seem unusual, especially if they are normally friendly and outgoing.
Some may even show signs of anger or frustration without any concrete reason. These emotions can lead to a lack of interest in activities they would usually find enjoyable.
Strange marks or bruises
As you talk more with your loved one, you may see that they have scrapes and bruises on their limbs. If there is no reason for them or your parents seem to want to hide them, they could come from the staff at the nursing home.
You could even see burn marks or scars. Your loved one may try to cover up these physical signs by wearing long sleeves or long pants.
Broken personal items
If you see a pair of broken eyeglasses or notice that other items your loved one needs to live a comfortable life are missing, it could be a sign of something worse. The staff may fail to fix or buy necessary items for your loved one because of this abuse.
Dealing with nursing home abuse can be a tough subject for older adults, so being sensitive and alert is important when talking to them.