Not everyone is equipped with the patience to be a nurse, yet many Americans find themselves caring for a senior at home. As a result, there are roughly 2 million cases of elder abuse each year that include emotional, physical, sexual and financial abuse, as well as neglect. Since 3/5 of the cases of domestic violence committed against seniors are from family members, it is important that you look into finding a senior care facility if you feel your stress levels and patience wearing thin.
Chances are you have already made the decision to put your mother or father into an institution that can best care for their later life needs. Perhaps you felt guilty about it, but deep down knew you couldn’t handle the stress and time-consumption of being an at-home caregiver. You want to be sure all of your parent’s needs are being met and that he or she is happy, although seniors aren’t always candid about being abused; perhaps out of fear, humiliation, ignorance of the signs, deep depression or the normalization of violence. Therefore, it’s up to you to watch out for symptoms of abusive relationships within the nursing home.
Victims of physical elder abuse often have cuts, bruises or other injuries that do not seem to match with their stories and they may have repeated “accidents.” Often, they appear withdrawn, isolated or confess that they are fearful. Some elders try to communicate using coded language. They may attempt or contemplate suicide or abuse medication and substances. They may be difficult to get along with, suddenly angry or sullen. They may have chronic, non-specific complaints or feel emotionally dependent upon the abuser. Some elders miss doctor’s appointments, delay seeking medical help or show signs of depression or trauma.
According to the AARP, there are certain signs of a good nursing home you should look out for, to prevent elder abuse. Look to see that patients are treated with dignity, that there are activities, that the food is good and healthy, that the furnishings and grounds are homelike, that there are amenities like in-room televisions or music and that your participation is encouraged. Statistically speaking, institutional caregivers are not the primary abusers of senior citizens, but the more you can do to ensure your loved one’s happiness, the longer he or she will live.
