Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Elder Abuse ? A National Disgrace | Baby Boomers Journal

As people approach their golden years, a lot of them end up needing additional outside attention to help them cope with many of life?s basic necessities. Often they will need help with dressing, bathing, and perhaps even eating.

Sometimes taking care of a senior citizen at home becomes overwhelming and too challenging. At that point in time, family members begin to consider whether or not the elder?s needs could be better addressed if they were moved to a nursing home or to an assisted living facility.

When family members place a senior citizen in such a facility they are trusting that their loved one will be properly cared for and that they will be in a safe and happy living environment. However, this is not always the case.

Elder abuse is running rampant in our country. It?s been estimated that abusive situations exist in nearly one out of every three nursing homes in the United States. And studies have also indicated that for every case of abuse that has been reported, five others remain unreported.

Elders are often abused by the staff of these residences because these workers are traditionally overworked and underpaid. And when that happens they tend to take their feelings out on the victims who are least able to protect themselves ? the senior citizens who are in their care.

If you have a loved one in such a residence it is in their best interest fort you to keep your eyes open for any potentially abusive situations. Here are a number of the things you should look for:

? Does your loved one have any bruises or discolorations on the thighs or inner arms? Do these bruises look like finger prints or thumb prints? Do you see any choke marks on their neck?

? Do new bruises show up where old bruises had been?

? Do they have different colored bruises?

? Does it look like their bruises have been caused by belts (possibly used to restrain them), cords or coins?

? Do they have any cigarette burns, pinch marks, rope burns, cuts or scratches?

? Do they have any fractures?

? Are there other signs of any physical injuries on their face, head or scalp, such as a black eye?

? Is their appearance unkempt?

? Are their clothes torn or stained?

? Is their hygiene poor?

? Are their toenails or fingernails dirty or uncut?

? Is their dental hygiene inadequate?

? Do they seem fearful, resigned, or helpless?

? Do they tell you what seem to be implausible stories?

? Do their providers not permit them to be alone with anyone, including you?

? Are they not allowed to speak for themselves?

? Do their providers restrict their contacts with the outside world?

? Do their care providers restrict the activities that the seniors are allowed to do?

If you notice that any of these things are happening to your loved one, then it is in their best interest that you contact the proper authorities in order to prevent this abuse from taking place.

An experienced Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer can be found at http://www.sokolovelaw.com/legal-help/nursing-home-abuse/

Wendy Moyer on behalf of Sokolove Law.

Source: http://babyboomersjournal.com/elder-abuse-a-national-disgrace.html

bishop eddie long eddie long kyle orton kyle orton awol awol bertrand russell

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.