Checklist;
Spotting Nursing Home Abuse And Neglect

By Staff Writer
fernandezfirm.com

Whenever you visit a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility, make a habit of noticing how they are doing. If you believe their rights are being violated, or that they are not getting the care they are entitled to, use the following checklist:

• Is the resident suffering from bed sores:
• Has the resident experienced frequent falls, or broken any bones? Are there lesions, bruises or skin tears?
• Do you notice continued signs of dehydration (lack of water) or malnutrition (poor or inadequate food) or weight loss?
• Does the resident seem to be "going downhill" undergoing progressive, generalized deterioration? Have you noticed the resident is less active, or less able to move about?
• Have you noticed changes in the resident's cognitive abilities (perception, reasoning, thought patterns)? What about emotional changes; mood swings, withdrawal, weeping, paranoia, anxiety, or irrational fears?
• Are residents dressed appropriately for the season and time of day? Are there any signs of exposure to cold (severely chapped lips, chilblains) or heat (sunburn, heat exhaustion, dehydration)?
• Are the resident's living quarters clean? Is there a persistent smell or urine or feces? Do you notice any safety hazards?
• Are the resident's medical conditions being treated in a timely fashion?
• Is the resident suffering from lice or parasites? Does the resident suffer from frequent urinary tract infections? Does the resident experience persisting, uncontrolled infections?
• Are the medications left over at the end of the month?
• Have you noticed any failure to provide eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids and other necessary devices?
• Have there ever been delays between an incident causing injury and notification of a doctor and the family or guardian?
• Does there seem to be adequate staff supervision? Are restraints (chemical or physical) being used on the resident? Are these appropriate?
• Do caregivers ever blame the resident for things like incontinence? Do they attempt to prevent the resident from seeing or speaking to visitors?
• Does the caregiver speak of the resident as a burden, or treat the resident with indifference?
• Are there conflicting stories from the resident and the caregiver? Does the caregiver react defensively to routine questions about the resident's care?

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