Many family members who plan to have their loved ones reside in a nursing home or assisted living facility hesitate to place them there. They worry about the quality of the care that they’ll receive, including being subjected to neglect.
What constitutes neglect in a nursing home setting?
Some elderly individuals and those with special needs don’t have the ability to take care of themselves and rely on an attendant to provide that for them. Neglect is a situation in which an individual doesn’t receive the basic care that they require. Some examples of this treatment may include attendants failing to help residents get to the bathroom or get basic exercise. It may also include a nursing home employee leaving their attendee soiled for far longer than they should.
What is the psychological impact of nursing home neglect?
Most stories that often end up in the news about nursing home neglect focus on the physical injuries residents face in these facilities. They seldom address the psychological implications of such incidents.
You can expect an individual subjected to abuse such as neglect to begin showing signs of emotional distress, including:
- Isolation and other depressive symptoms
- Avoidance when you try to discuss certain issues with them
- A propensity to become easily angered
- Increased distancing from family and friends
- The emergence of resentfulness.
- The appearance of fear around their caregivers.
Any sudden shifts in your loved one’s demeanor should raise red flags for you. You can minimize the chances of these concerns spiraling out of control by addressing them right away. California law may allow you to recover compensation to cover the costs associated with any medical care your loved one may require to begin to recover from their neglect.