It’s unbelievable but there are reports that some elderly residents in some nursing homes experienced abuses.  There are many forms of abuses not only in physical but also in psychological source. Bruises and injuries may be obvious from mental suffering cause from emotional and psychological abuse among elderly.  It is not bad to investigate if something happens to your elderly. If you are told that your elderly aging parents fell or slipped, would you not ask the staffs why it happened knowing the fact that it’s their obligation to take good care for them.  Negligence or recklessness may be considered as a form of abuse in nursing home for elderly.

Examples of elderly caregiver negligence

  • Leaving elders dirty, or in improper dressing, no shave, long and mucky fingernails, shaggy and greasy hair. This inattention act may lead to loneliness, thrashing and desolation.
  • No assistance for feeding and giving medicines for the elders.
  • No assistance for hygiene which could result to different infections and diseases.
  • Not responding to lights, buzzers and calls for aid.
  • No assistance when elders are walking which could lead to serious injuries.
  • Cold treatment which serves as reprimand

Examples of financial abuse

  • Taking the oldsters’ money by promising something which is not done.
  • No proper allowance as what is provided by the medical recipients.
  • Forging checks
  • Forbids elders to have access to his/her monetary allowance and belongings.

It is advisable that something such as cash, ATM cards, Credit cards and blank check should not be put in residents’ room.  You can leave them under the administrator’s assistance where they can keep it in a safety location. Some nursing homes permits small safe to set up an alert for their elderly residents.

Physical abuse can be detrimental in our elderly aged especially the act of abusing in psychological aspect. Mental abuse is not that obvious but its impact is severe and profound especially for those with emotional distress and psychological illness like elderly dementia and Alzheimer’s.

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