Monitoring Our Loved Ones in Senior Living
What Do We Do If We Suspect Our Loved Ones Are Not Being Properly Treated?
Senior living facilities provide the elderly with help when it comes to completing routine tasks such as bathing, grooming, toileting, etc. The kind of services on offer differs from facility to facility. The residence staff is entrusted with the responsibility to care for the senior residents in the facility. However, in case you suspect improper treatment towards your loved one, there are a few steps of action you may take.
Visit Often and Become a Part of the Facility’s Family Council
Frequently visiting your loved ones will not only make them happy, but also help you ensure that they are being treated in the right manner. When you catch up with your loved ones, find out if they are receiving proper treatment from the staff. Ask them if they have any concerns regarding anything at the facility. If they do, you can consult the staff and request them to address the problem.
You could also join the facility’s family council if you want to make a significant difference. These councils are set up with the objective of ensuring protection and improving the quality of life of the people residing in the facility. Joining the council will help you directly address your concerns to the facility’s Director of Nurses and/or Administrator.
Choose all the Required Services
Before your loved one moves into the senior living facility, make sure that all the services he/she requires are communicated with the staff. Sometimes residents ask for services that they had previously rejected. Unless your loved one is sick or unable to physically perform a task, facilities are strict about the delivery of their services. However, if your loved one is a victim of biased and unfair treatment from the staff, you must thoroughly understand the kind of abuse he/she has suffered.
The kinds of problems residents may encounter at senior living facility include physical abuse, emotional/verbal abuse, and neglect or lack of care. Signs of physical abuse may include physical restraint of an unreasonable nature, deprivation of water and food, giving them more medication than required, or less than required, forcing the elderly to remain in his/her room, unexplained injuries, etc. Emotional or verbal abuse may include humiliating the elderly, threatening or insulting them, and ignoring their friends and family. Abuse due to negligence includes the staff’s lack of care towards the resident’s medical problems, bed sores, disregard for offering help in daily activities, etc.
