Moving your loved one into an Illinois nursing home is never an easy decision. It’s likely that they are a parent who has cared for you in your early years. We move our parents into nursing homes due to the lack of specialized care we can give them at home or because we are still working full-time jobs outside of the home. Here are some important questions to ask your loved one when trying to spot nursing home abuse so you can keep your loved one safe.
Are you being treated respectfully? This might seem like too simple of a question to ask but it is an important one. If your loved one isn’t feeling respected by the staff, it is quite possible that he or she is facing some form of abuse, either physical or emotional.
Are you taking part in activities? If your loved one is not getting out of their room for activities or to go to the cafeteria, especially if they cannot move themselves, they might be facing abuse. Residents should not be left to sit alone in their rooms for hours on end.
Are nurses answering your calls? When your loved one hits the nurse button or uses the phone to call the nurse’s station, are they getting an answer? If the answer is not immediate, are they getting an answer at all? Strong communication between the nurses and your loved one is vital to their health.
It might not be as easy as you think to spot nursing home abuse. Your loved one might not want to talk about what is happening to them. They might be embarrassed or might not be able to communicate. Asking the questions presented here can help you determine if abuse is taking place.