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 Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) reports that 95% of nursing home residents they interviewed had experienced neglect or witnessed another resident be neglected.

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.

Choosing a skilled nursing facility for your loved one can be a difficult decision. It’s likely there are a number of facilities nearby to choose from, and determining which one is safest isn’t always an easy task. You want the best for your loved one, and they deserve to live in a facility that provides them access to the physical, mental, emotional, and social resources they need to live a high-quality life.

If you’re looking to find the safest option for your family member, there are state and federal resources you can turn to. In addition to that, there are things you can look out for when you visit establishments for the first time and when you return to see your loved one.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home, you expect them to be given the best care so they stay healthy and can enjoy their life in the home. However, if you see something that seems off, you may be wondering if you should report it. In Kentucky, you need to report signs of abuse or danger. While this may be scary, it’s going to benefit your loved one and make sure they get the help they need. Then, you can seek justice for them with a nursing home abuse claim.

At Golden Law Office, we understand how precarious this situation can be, but we will be with you every step of the way to provide all the help and support that we can. We’ll make sure to fight for your loved one’s rights and to do everything possible to get them a fair settlement.

It can be difficult to realize that as our family members age, they can become vulnerable to different types of abuse – especially when those are the individuals we’ve looked up to our entire lives. There are a number of factors that increase a person’s risk for abuse – especially when they live in a long-term care facility like a nursing home. Unfortunately, it’s a rare occurrence for an abused senior to report what’s been done to them.

It’s known that approximately one in ten Americans over the age of 60 has experienced some form of abuse; however, it’s likely that only one in 14 cases are reported to the proper authorities. It’s also likely that those numbers are low estimations. Understanding what factors put an elder at risk can aid in the prevention of abuse.

Trusting the care of your loved one to a nursing home can be a harrowing decision. There may come a time, however, where there are no other options. If this is the case, it’s best to understand the ins and outs of how the facility runs, and to recognize that neglect and abuse can happen – regardless of how the facility appears to function.

Kentucky’s Required Nursing Home Standards

Under the Kentucky Nursing Home Reform Act, nursing homes must provide the following care to all residents:

• Help residents maintain their highest possible level of mental and physical wellbeing
• Aid residents in maintaining good personal and oral hygiene
• Make sure that all residents are able to eat, bathe, walk, toilet, and communicate effectively – unless medically impossible
• Ensure all residents understand the care they receive and are able to make informed decisions