What are Signs of Poor Care in a Nursing Home?

When we place a family member in a nursing facility, we are entrusting the facility with the responsibility to look after our loved one. Unfortunately, episodes of injury and neglect are common threats to the safety and well being of nursing home patients across the country. As a family member it is important for you to be able to recognize these situations so you can identify a problem before it worsens and help in getting the medical care for a condition.

You Know Your Loved One Better Than a Staff Member—And You Always Will

Particularly for families that reside out-of-state, relying on information provided by staff may be the only method of keeping track of your loved one's well being. While not an ideal way to monitor, consistent contact and asking specific questions about your family member's condition can be helpful on monitoring their care. For family members who are verbal and alert, speaking to them directly can also provide some insight regarding their physical and mental condition.

For families that are able to make in-person visits to their loved ones residing in a nursing facility, there is no better way to asses their condition than by seeing them for yourself. When visiting, remember to trust your instincts and never assume everything relayed to you by staff members is 100% correct.

While age does little to improve our health and level of function, a patient in a nursing home should simply not be on a perpetual decline. As a family member or friend, you should always be on the lookout for the following situations which may be the source of an underlying problem and warrant further actions:

• The development of pressure sores, particularly on the buttock and heels
• Sudden behavioral changes, is the person moody, angry, withdrawn, upset
• Clothing that is dirty or bloody
• Joints that are stiff or stuck in one position
• Bruising, cuts, fractures or burns
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Sudden weight loss
• Appearance of being overly medicated or fatigued

Also be on the lookout for how staff acts around you and your family member when you visit.

• Does staff refuse you on some visits?
• Does staff seem annoyed by your presence?
• Does your loved one act differently when a staff member is present?

You've Noticed Some Changes in Your Loved One. Now What?

While the discovery of an unsatisfactory condition is never pleasant, you need to assess the situation yourself to determine its severity. If the situation seems minor in nature, simply making your concerns known to staff at the facility or perhaps contacting a nursing home ombudsman may remedy it.

Sometimes a situation cannot be resolved simply by discussing it with member of the nursing home staff or administrator at the facility. Or perhaps the situation is too disturbing to even consider discussing in an attempt to resolve amicably and you are ready to take legal action?

In this circumstances, having a legal representative looking at a situation with a degree of impartiality can be helpful when trying to assess the severity of a situation or options recourse.