No one wants to see a loved one hurt at the hands of the care providers who are paid to provide that care. Unfortunately, that alone is not enough to stop that from happening and elderly individuals are hurt or neglected all too frequently. This abuse and neglect can take many forms including physical, sexual, emotional and financial. There are things people can do to try to prevent such incidents from occurring.
The first is to make regular visits to see your loved one. While there keep a look out for any signs of physical abuse or neglect. You can also watch for emotional abuse as well. If the person seems afraid of caregivers it is possible that they are being mistreated when you are not there.
To check for theft make sure that the finances of your loved one are in order. Anything taken from accounts should be accounted for. Also make sure that the amounts of their medications left in the containers make sense mathematically according to how much they are prescribed.
If there are any signs of abuse or neglect it is important to report your suspicions. Taking immediate action can prevent anything further from happening. It should also commence an investigation into the allegations. If someone appears to be seriously injured get them the medical care they need. In some cases it could make sense to remove the person from the facility completely.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident and severity of the injuries suffered a personal injury lawsuit could be appropriate. Meeting with a lawyer is the first step in pursuing this course of action.
