Signs to Look for to Know Your Relative is Being Cared for in a Nursing Home

It can be a traumatic experience putting your elderly relative in a nursing home, so finding they are not being cared for properly can be devastating.

Many people who put their old or elderly relatives in a nursing home have been accused of abandoning them . This is wrong. You can’t just abandon your loved one, you must make sure that adequate attention and care is given to him or her.

One of the primary things you should do before placing your loved one in a nursing home is investigate the prospective home first hand. You shouldn’t base your decision just on the recommendation of people.

You should visit at different times of the day to watch what happens in the home. If you have done this, that's fine. But your work does not end there. You still must show concern about the welfare of your loved one and ensure they are receiving good care.

During your visit to the home, you must be on the look out for ‘strange’ happenings you didn’t notice initially before bringing your relative. There are many signs you can detect to see whether your relative is receiving enough attention at the home.

• When you get to the home, check whether there is any injury requiring special attention at the hospital. Old or aged hardly notice any injury on their bodies and if there is, they tend to want to keep it to themselves.
  
• Also, look for any incident that involves broken bones. Whenever you are at the home, ensure you monitor your relative. Look at his or her body. Study his or her movement to detect any broken or fractured bones.
  
• Check if there is any record of injury or death occurring during or shortly after an episode of wandering (including outside the facility) when the staff were not aware the resident was missing for some period of time
  
• Most importantly, watch out if your loved one or other residents are under heavy medication or sedation. If your loved one or any other resident is sleeping too much no matter the time of your visit, then it is a sure sign they have been drugged
  
• Another sign that might show you the home is not taking care of your loved one properly is when there is a drastic and profound change in the physical fitness of your relative. In other words, if there is rapid weight loss or gain without physician and family notification, you should demand an explanation from the home authorities.
  
• When death becomes a normal occurrence in the home. That is when residents die within a short period in between and without any justifiable reason, it is a sign that the home is overlooking its responsibility.
  
• If at any time you visit and you discover one resident injuring another. This is sure sign the home is not taking its duties seriously.
  
• When residents become frequently ill and these illnesses are not promptly reported to the physician and family, it is time to take up the case with the authority of the nursing home.
  
• The fact you have paid for the service of the nursing home entitles you to demand an explanation or information on any situations or circumstances you are not happy with at the home.

Be vigilant anytime you are visiting the home and you can leave knowing you have done your duty.