Abuse and Neglect from Improperly Trained Workers
When you put the care of an elderly loved one in the hands of a medical professional, you trust those hands are compassionately trained and properly educated.

PHOENIX, AZ, December 04, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When you put the care of an elderly loved one in the hands of a medical professional, you trust those hands are compassionately trained and properly educated. If your loved one requires nursing care, a thorough nursing home evaluation is crucial. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services offers these recommendations:

- The nursing home and its administrator must be licensed by the State.
- The nursing home must screen potential employees for a history of abuse, meeting the State's requirements.
- The nursing home should offer rehabilitation, Alzheimer's, and hospice services. If they do, ask if waiting periods or facility guidelines apply.
- The nursing home should offer abuse prevention training for employees. This training should include education regarding how to recognize resident abuse and neglect, how to properly handle aggressive or difficult residents without injury, and how to handle the pressure of effectively caring for the needs of multiple elderly residents.

Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Even after a thorough analysis of nursing home safety, abuse and neglect can still occur:

- Bed Sores: Known medically as decubitus ulcers, bed sores can be prevented with proper patient care
- Physical Abuse: Includes hitting, slapping, pinching, choking
- Verbal Abuse: Language that degrades, manipulates, intimidates, criticizes
- Sexual Abuse: Inappropriate touching, sexual language or other harassment
- Excessive Chemical or Physical Restraints: Inappropriate use of sedatives and physical restraints to subdue the patient

Indicators of Nursing Home Abuse

- Amputation: Caused by untreated bed sores, diabetes, and other untreated health conditions
- Head Trauma/Brain Injury: Poor supervision or failure to provide assistive devices. Oxygen deprivation, physical abuse, or avoidable falls can also lead to head trauma or brain injury.
- Medication Errors: Negligence can leads to overdose, inaccurate medication or dosages, and adverse interactions among medications
- Poor Hygiene: Often one of the first signs something is wrong
- Malnutrition/Dehydration: Federal law requires nursing homes to maintain proper nutrition and hydration levels for every patient
- Wandering Off: Inadequate supervision can lead to injury or death
- Choking: Dehydration, poor supervision, and negligence can lead to choking

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Sara Goldstein
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