With the nation’s, and Georgia’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities on lock down for the past year and a half, many families have been unable to adequately check on the care their loved ones were receiving. With visitation opening back up it is time to check your loved one’s care. It is time to check for abuse, neglect, and substandard care.
Past History of Georgia Elder Abuse
In the past, nursing homes in the State of Georgia had reached an all-time high in elder abuse, ranking in the top-three states for response time to reported abuse. With facilities on lock down for such an extended period of time, your family needs to have the care they have been receiving assessed. It is time to check with visitation opening back up.
Nursing Home Abuse Includes Many Types
Abuse can take many forms, which include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or financial abuse. The aftermath of abuse may be unseen, but can cause deep and lasting pain and suffering. Federal guidelines require onsite investigations within two days of a complaint, however in recent COVID19 lockdown, complaints may have never been made. Having the education of what to look for can help your loved ones, and those with little to no family involvement. Take the time to check now.
Checklist to Assess for Nursing Home Abuse
Having a checklist helps in making sure you are checking a wide variety of aspects related to the care and treatment that your loved one is receiving. The Georgia Department of Human Services gives some key signs and signals that can help to identify that abuse has occurred or is ongoing. A checklist you may use follows:
- Comments about being mistreated or abused
- Burns, bruises, cuts, black eyes, skin tears, abrasions
- Fractures, dislocated joints, sprains
- Complains of pain to touch or hugs
- Gives a fearful look or withdraws to a hug
- Missing money, valuables, personal items
- Unusual credit card uses, or bank account withdrawals (stolen cards, PIN numbers, forged checks)
- Reports being isolated from others or activities
- Reports being ignored
- Reports hearing or seeing abuse (verbal, physical)
- Sexually transmitted disease or genital trauma
- Malnourishment, dehydration, weight loss that is not explained
- Unsanitary conditions (wearing soiled clothing, bed covers dirty and not changed)
- Improperly dressed (not enough clothing, revealing clothing, clothing that appears too immature, ripped or torn clothing, complaints of being too cold or too hot)
- Shows lack of proper dental care, podiatry services, regular doctor exams
- Being treated for bed sores or rashes
- Has wounds or other medical conditions that are not being properly treated
- Medication errors
- Proper hygiene neglected
- Body odor, heavy urine or feces smell in room, hallways, or on resident
- Dried up foods or liquids left on their face or clothing
- Hair knotted, dirty, greasy, unkempt
- Placed in wheelchair or chair where they are unable to leave area
- No call button within reach
- No liquids within reach
- Calls for assistance left unanswered
Statistics of Nursing Home Abuse
You may need to take legal steps by consulting with a personal injury lawyer if you feel immediate action needs to be taken. In the past, the National Center on Elder Abuse stated that over 50% of nursing home workers admitted to mistreatment of at least one of their patients. More than 50% of nursing home aides (CNA’s) admitted to verbally abusing or yelling at the elderly in their care. In addition, 44% of nursing home residents had reported abuse of some kind.
Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Fights for Proper Care
Call an elder care abuse lawyer who will fight for your loved one, take legal action against the guilty parties, and take all the necessary steps to protect them from further harm. Call Joel Baskin, Attorney at Law, for immediate action.