As people age, they typically need more help with everyday tasks and sometimes may even need to move into a nursing home.
The longer your loved one stays in a home, the more you may notice some signs that the staff is not paying proper attention to them. In order to understand neglect, you need to know its impact and signs of it.
Poor personal cleanliness
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, details like stains on your loved one’s shirt or strange smells on their clothes can signal neglect. Ripped or uneven nails, as well as strange bruises, can also show that no one is helping them with tasks.
The staff could fail to assist them with personal grooming or may ignore their need for regular assistance with more physically intense tasks like bathing.
Complaints of hunger or thirst
If you notice your loved one talking about feeling hungry or thirsty more often than before, it could be a sign that the staff does not provide them with enough food or water regularly.
Since it is hard for some older people to walk or lift items, they could struggle to get their own meals. Continued dehydration can severely affect a person’s mental state and physical health.
Unsafe or dirty room
When you walk into your loved one’s room, you may notice thick layers of dust, crawling bugs or unsafe piles of items scattered on the floor.
Understanding the impact of neglectful staff members in a nursing home can help you decide what steps to take next.