Warning Signs Of Elder Abuse & Neglect in Illinois Nursing Homes
A report titled “Abuse of Residents is a Major Problem in Nursing Homes”, prepared at the request of Rep. Henry Waxman, D-California, found that over a two-year period from January 1, 1999 through January 1, 2001, all violations reported in nursing homes “had at least the potential to harm nursing home residents”. This was for nursing homes in Illinois as well as in all other areas of the country. Of the more than 17,000 nursing homes nationwide, 5,283 nursing homes had been cited for an abuse and/or neglect violation and more than 1,600 of those nursing homes with abuse and neglect violations were considered serious enough to cause actual harm to residents or place residents in immediate danger of serious injury or death. The report said an additional 256 nursing homes were cited for violations that resulted in death or serious injury.
The reported abuses and neglect were physical, sexual and verbal. The report indicated all abuses and incidents of neglect are on the rise. More than twice as many nursing homes were cited for abuse and/or neglect in 2000 than in 1996. In 1996, 5.9 percent of all nursing homes were cited for an abuse or nelgelct violation during their annual inspections; in 2000, 16 percent of nursing homes were cited.
The report also said the findings most likely underestimate the magnitude of nursing home abuses and neglect of nursing home residents in the country because most violations either go undetected or unreported. This means the real numbers on abuse and on the incidences of Illinois nursing home neglect are unknown.
The major findings of the report were:
Over 30-percent of nursing homes in the United States were cited for abuses and/or neglect, totaling more than 9,000 abuse violation during the two year period. 1,327 homes were cited for more than one abuse and/or neglect violation in the two-year period; 305 homes were cited for three or more abuse violations, and 192 nursing homes were cited for five or more abuse violations. Yet, these homes continue to operate not only in Illinous, but all over the United States.
Ten percent of nursing homes had violations that caused actual harm or death to residents.
Over 40 percent, or 3,800 abuse and/or nelgect violations, were discovered only after a formal complaint was filed.
Illinois nursing home elder neglect, as is neglect in all areas of the United States is a form of elder abuse, which often goes unnoticed, but can turn deadly. We consumers believe nursing homes will be safe and so we entrust ourselves or our loved ones to a nursing home. We expect those in Illinois nursing homes to be well cared for. Learning to recognize the signs of abuse and neglect can save your life or the life of someone you love.
What is abuse?
In an Illinois nursing home, elder abuse is the infliction of physical, emotional, or psychological harm on an older adult. Elder abuse also can take the form of financial exploitation or intentional or unintentional neglect of an older adult by a caregiver or staff member of an illinois nursnig home. The signs of abuse and/or nelgect can be difficult to spot because they are often hard to distinguish from the normal effects of aging, but careful vigilance is necessary to protect those we love.
Nursing home abuse in Illinois nursing homes includes:
Neglect
Physical abuse
Mental/emotional abuse
Sexual abuse
Caregiver neglect can range from caregiving strategies that withhold appropriate attention from an individual to intentionally failing to meet the physical, social, or emotional needs of an older person. Weight loss, diminished appetite, becoming less active, and even falls and easy bruising are normal parts of aging, but neglect can accelerate all of these problems and lead to an early death.
Signs of neglect in Illinois nursing homes include:
Malnutrition
Dehydration
Weight loss
Clothes becoming too large
Dirty bedding
Dirty clothes
Poor hygiene
Bed sores
Infections
Sunburn
Unexplained bruises and/or injuries
Sunken eyes
Physical abuse of Illinois nursing home residents is not uncommon. Victims of abuse are often afraid to complain since they have been threatened with even worse reprisals. Some victims of abuse and neglect are incapable of voicing their concerns.
Warning signs of physical abuse and/or neglect in Illinois Nursing Homes include:
Open Wounds
Bruises/grip marks around arms/neck
Bruises or abrasions caused by restraints
Unreasonable sedation
Unexplained injuries
Withdrawal
Confusion and dementia
Sudden rude behavior toward family members and friends
Unusual behaviors such as sucking, biting or rocking
Mental/emotional abuse can be more difficult to spot because there are no visible physical injuries. It is no less dangerous, though, than other forms of abuse and can make life a living hell for nursing home residents. Victims are often told that if they report this kind of abuse they will be putting themselves or their loved ones in danger.
Signs of Mental or Emotional Abuse and/or neglect in Illinois Nursing Homes include:
Erratic behavior
Unreasonable fear/suspicions
Agitation
Depression/Withdrawal
Confusion and dementia
Loss of appetite
Refusal to socialize or participate in activities
Unexplained enforced isolation
Refusal to respond or communicate/Evasiveness
Sudden rude behavior toward family members and friends
Unusual behaviors such as sucking, biting or rocking
Sudden, unexplained decline in health
Although it is hard to imagine, sexual abuse is a very real problem in Illinouis nursing homes. The abuse is perpetrated either by the workers at the Illinois nursing home or other nursing home residents. Victims are often unable or too ashamed to report sexual abuse.
Signs of Sexual Abuse in Illinois Nursing Homes include:
Unexplained genital infections/venereal diseases
Unexplained genital or anal irritation or injury
Unexplained difficulty walking or sitting
Bruises and/or thumbprints around the breasts, buttocks, inner thighs, or genital area
Torn, stained, or bloody underclothing
Stained or bloody sheets
Fear, anxiety, or combativeness when a specific staff member attempts to help with bathing, dressing, or toileting
If your loved one has displayed any signs of abuse, you must act immediately to ensure the situation does not get worse. In the case of neglect, get involved in your loved one’s treatment and daily care to make sure they have been moved, groomed, bathed, etc. Family members make the best advocates for nursing home residents. When family members visit often and ask questions, staff members will be hesitant to engage in abusive activities or provide substandard care. Residents have rights, and involved family members will ensure that those rights are not violated by predators or careless staff.
Filed Under Ideas to help prevent Abuse and Neglect, Signs of Neglect and Abuse |
Tagged With Emotional Abuse, Mental Abuse, Nursing Home Abuse, Nursing Home Neglect, Physical Abuse, Resident Care, Resident Rights, Sexual Abuse, Signs of Abuse, Signs of Neglect and Abuse, Types of Abuse, Types of Neglect
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