Nobody wants to think about the day when you must move your mom or dad into a nursing home. Your parents took care of you for your entire life. You wish you could do the same for them as they get older. The problem is that some elderly people have medical conditions that you just can’t manage. For example, if your mom has Alzheimer’s disease, it’ll be difficult to take care of them. You may need to consider moving them into a nursing home. If something goes wrong and you don’t think they’re being treated right, you need to call and talk to a Columbia nursing home abuse lawyer.
You Need to Keep an Eye Out for Telltale Signs of Neglect
Once your loved one has moved into a nursing home, you no longer have access to them 24 hours a day. You’re trusting that the nursing home staff will take excellent care of them. They can do the things you can’t do. They’ll make sure your mom or dad takes their medicine as prescribed. They’ll also ensure they get the physical or occupational therapy they need. You can’t possibly do this by yourself. If you could, you never would’ve moved your loved one into the home in the first place.
Even though you want to trust that the nursing home staff are doing the right thing, you still need to check for yourself. A parent with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease may be too scared to tell you about neglect. You want to pay attention to the little things when you visit with your parent. Some of the telltale signs of abuse or neglect include:
- Your loved one appears to be unkempt and soiled
- They haven’t been bathed or cleaned
- They are losing weight
- They seem upset or sad all the time
- They have bruises or marks on them
The moment you notice any of this stuff, you need to call an experienced Columbia nursing home abuse lawyer. They can help you investigate the matter and decide if you have a legal claim against the nursing home. They can also reach out to the Ombudsman’s office to see if there are any other open clams on the facility.
Look at Your Parent’s Chart to See if There’s Anything Unusual
Even if you’re not a doctor or nurse, you still have common sense. If you notice anything unusual on your mom or dad’s chart, ask questions. This could be anything from a change in medication to a note about them not sleeping at night. If you have power of attorney over your loved one, which you probably do, you can ask to speak to the doctor about their care plan. You have a right to know what’s going with your loved one.
It’s important to keep in touch with the medical staff at the nursing home. If your mom or dad is scheduled to have a procedure, you should be made aware of this. Find out what the procedure is for and whether it’s necessary.
You also want to check their chart to see if your loved one has been behaving strangely. Is there a note from a nurse’s aide stating that your mom has been crying? Has there been a report filed indicating that your parent’s belongings have been stolen. Keep an eye on what’s going on with your loved one’s health.
Call a Columbia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Right Away
The minute you suspect something is wrong with your loved one, you need to do two things. First, make an appointment with your loved one’s medical team. You need to find out what’s going on with your loved one’s health. You also want to call an experienced Columbia nursing home abuse lawyer. They can make sure a thorough investigation is done. They’ll talk to other residents and staff. They’ll try to find out whether your loved one has been treated poorly.
If your elderly relative is being abused or neglected in a nursing home, they need help. They can’t help themselves. They need you to do this for them. Call and talk to an experienced Columbia nursing home abuse lawyer. Set up a date and time to meet with a skilled attorney who can review your case. They’ll give you an idea of what your case is worth. They can also answer any questions you may have.