Your Gut Feeling and Other Signs Might Signal Elder Abuse

It was probably a heart-wrenching decision to put your elderly parent in a nursing home. It can be difficult to trust others to care for your loved one, but the care your parent needs had become too much for you to manage on your own. However, like many other Mississippi residents, you may have concerns over whether your loved one is receiving the highest level of care. What if he or she is being abused or neglected?

Signs of elder abuse

Sadly, elder abuse is all too common and ranges from the mistreatment of seniors at the hands of their own relatives to staff in nursing homes inflicting harm. Your gut feeling may be saying that your parent’s caregivers are not treating him or her well. When you feel this way, it is important to listen. The following signs may be indicators of abuse or neglect:

• Your parent has become withdrawn, uncommunicative, angry or fearful, without explanation.
• He or she has lost weight unexpectedly and shows signs of dehydration or malnutrition.
• Your loved one’s appearance is unkempt, he or she has not had a bath, bedding is dirty and living quarters are full of clutter.
• He or she has untreated pressure sores, bruising, cuts, and scratches, fractures or other injuries that caregivers have no good excuse for.
• The staff cannot or will not answer your questions satisfactorily or deflect questions; the facility seems disorganized, uncooperative or understaffed.

Your parents deserve dignified and respectful treatment during their final years. There are plenty of nursing and hospice facilities with staff that is caring, efficient and professional, which can give you peace of mind that your loved one will be well taken care of. If you lack this peace of mind, it is a good idea to investigate, pay attention to your gut feelings and ask the questions that can lead you to finding quality care for your aging parent.