Some nursing home residents in Virginia are no longer able to speak. Sadly, nursing home neglect is more likely to occur to these individuals.
Why are elders who are unable to speak so high risk?
While nursing home abuse can happen to any elderly resident, those unable to speak are especially high risk. They cannot report what they endure, so the abuser might believe they can get away with it. Many elderly nursing home residents who cannot speak have dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or the effects of stroke.
What is nursing home neglect?
Nursing home neglect can occur in myriad ways. If a resident’s needs are not met, it can result in serious injuries and cognitive decline. One of the most common examples is not taking care of the person’s hygiene. If an elder is left in soiled clothing and isn’t allowed or assisted to bathe, it is a sign of abuse. Withholding medical care is another way that neglect can occur.
Elders who are left in their beds in the same position for lengthy periods of time are likely to suffer from bedsores. This is a classic sign of nursing home neglect. Malnutrition can be detected by a sudden, unexplained weight loss.
If an elder who cannot speak suddenly has bruises or other noticeable injuries that the staff cannot explain, it should set off red flags. When nursing home neglect occurs, it could be due to the staff not taking the proper measures to supervise residents. The resident could wander off by themselves and suffer a fall and injuries. These issues are often avoidable.
Nursing home neglect victims who can’t speak might make gestures to alert their loved ones of the abuse. However, many are too fearful to even try to communicate about it.
If you suspect that your elderly loved one has suffered nursing home neglect, report it. Then, an investigation can begin to right the wrongs they may have suffered.