Statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that as much as 75% of nursing home residents experience falls annually in the United States. Falls like these can seriously injure elderly victims, causing them to suffer broken bones, head injuries, and other impairments that cause them to experience increased pain and restrict their already-limited mobility even more. 

Many of these falls are completely preventable. Let’s explore why they happen and what can be done to prevent their occurrence so that you can take a proactive approach to minimize the chances of this affecting your nursing home resident loved one here in Lexington.

If you are concerned about the well-being of a friend or family member residing in a nursing home, you may be looking into the process of filing a concern or complaint. This article provides guidance about how to report nursing home abuse and neglect in Kentucky.

The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) has published studies concluding that approximately one in 10 older adults living in a community environment is a victim of abuse. This shocking statistic shows that elder abuse is a serious threat to individuals who reside in nursing homes. Trusting that your loved one will be well cared for in a nursing home facility should never come with the fear of mistreatment or neglect. When abuse or neglect does occur, action should be taken to quickly put an end to a grievous situation of maltreatment.

Knowledge is one way you can equip yourself to be an advocate for vulnerable adults residing in nursing homes. By educating yourself on signs and symptoms of potential neglect or mistreatment, you can help prevent or stop a serious problem. One major sign of neglect in nursing homes is bedsores. Bedsores indicate that an individual has been left immobile for long periods of time, and suggests that they are not receiving proper care and attention. If you find that a nursing home resident you know has developed bedsores, get in touch immediately with a trusted nursing home abuse lawyer who can help protect the rights of your loved one.

When your loved one is in a nursing home, you expect them to receive the best care possible. Included in that care are different staff members who are able to do different tasks for your loved one. But not every staff member can do everything for your loved one. Some actions require a higher level of training or certification, like administering medication.

If your loved one doesn’t get their medication on time or by the correct staff member, they could be experiencing nursing home abuse. Nobody deserves to be mistreated, especially older people who require specific care. A lawyer from Golden Law Office will fight for your loved one to ensure that they get the compensation they deserve.

When it comes time for your loved one to enter into a nursing home, determining the safest facility for them in Kentucky can be a challenge. With nearly 300 facilities in the state, you may feel overwhelmed when researching locations. Fortunately, there are a number of resources available to families that can help you make the right decision for your loved one.

In order to come to a confident decision regarding your family member’s nursing home, let’s take a look at what the facilities are like in Kentucky, what happens when a facility is cited for abuse or neglect and where you can find that information, and how to ultimately decide which facility is safest.

When it comes time to move a loved one into a nursing home, it’s not uncommon for questions regarding quality of life and time left to arise—especially if there are serious medical conditions or illnesses. Regardless, you expect that facility to provide your family member with everything they need to live comfortably and well. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.

When individuals think about those most at risk for abuse, children come to mind first. This is probably because of their age and the lack of agency that comes with being young. There is, however, another large group of the population that is at risk for abuse—senior citizens. Elder abuse is a prevalent issue, especially in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Despite drastic age and status differences, there are similarities between child abuse and elder abuse. Being both major medical and societal concerns in the United States and all over the world, it’s important to have an understanding of why the abuse happens, its effects, and what can be done to protect victims and those at risk.

When you trust the care of your loved one to a nursing home, you expect only the best care to be provided. Some long-term care facilities provide just that, but sadly, not all of them supply optimal care for all of their residents. In fact, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) reports that 10% of Americans over the age of 60 have experienced one or more forms of elder abuse.

When residents aren’t being neglected, staff is typically more focused on other health problems that might seem more pressing than dental hygiene. Even if patients have dental insurance or complain of pain, many staff members at nursing homes are not prepared to address dental health problems. But in the elderly, poor dental health can cause a quick decline in overall health.

When you trust the care of your loved one to a nursing home, you expect they’ll receive the same level of care that you would give them. Plenty of other people think the same way. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 1.3 million residents in United States nursing homes.

Even though amazing care is expected, that’s not always what is enacted in these facilities. There are high rates of neglect in long term care facilities, according to The United States Department of Justice. Even still, neglect is underreported in elder care. Nursing home abuse and neglect can be hard to spot, but unfortunately, it’s a common occurrence, even in Lexington.

Seniors in nursing homes are sometimes subject to abuse when the facility is negligent. This could be from not having enough staff to take care of their residents or if there is a malicious person working for the home. In any case, it’s a terrible thing to learn that your loved one has gone through elder abuse. While holding negligent individuals accountable for their actions will help, you may be wondering if there are any other ways that elder abuse can be prevented. There are a few tips that will help you stay in touch with your loved one and make it less likely for them to be abused or neglected.