If you have a loved one in a nursing home with dementia, you hope that the staff will take good care of them. They may need around-the-clock care because of these cognitive issues. You and your family members may check in on your elderly loved one periodically, but you don’t live with them full-time.
Unfortunately, abuse does sometimes happen in nursing homes. It’s important to know what signs and symptoms to look out for. Potential examples include:
- Unexplained injuries, such as broken bones, burns, abrasions or bruises.
- Sudden withdrawal, as the elderly person stops engaging with others or participating in their normal activities.
- Changes to their mental functioning, such as a decline in alertness.
- An increase in irritability or even aggression.
- Major changes to hygiene.
- Sudden loss of a significant amount of weight.
- The development of strained relationships with staff members.
These symptoms do not always indicate abuse. An elderly person may simply lose weight as they age or if they are sick, for example. But these symptoms are still red flags that you want to watch for, especially if you see more than one at the same time.
Why could dementia or Alzheimer’s play a role?
If your loved one has dementia, Alzheimer’s, or another disorder that affects their cognitive processing or their memory, they are very vulnerable to abuse. They may not be able to defend themselves and the person committing the abuse may assume that they won’t remember it. Your loved one may not report the abuse or tell anyone about their injuries.
That is why it is so important for family members to look for potential signs that things are not right. If you notice these signs and symptoms, then you also need to know what legal steps to take.