Watching a loved one decline mentally can be difficult, especially when they can no longer care for themselves or even stay grounded in their current reality. When a loved one has dementia or a similar mental ailment, they may need specialized care that can only be provided in a nursing home.
But do nursing homes always provide adequate care to those with mental conditions such as dementia? One report suggests that resident-to-resident incidents in nursing homes should not be blamed on the residents themselves, but instead on nursing homes that are not providing the right care to residents with mental conditions such as dementia.
Resident-to-resident incidents may be due to inadequate care
Researchers identify resident-to-resident incidents as negative acts of a verbal, physical or sexual nature that harm nursing home residents. According to one report, such acts are commonplace in nursing homes in the United States.
However, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services mostly overlooks such incidents even when they lead to injuries or fatalities. Thus, resident-to-resident incidents are not being properly addressed.
Oftentimes, such incidents are blamed on those with mental conditions such as dementia. However, one report suggests that these incidents are not abuse committed by those with dementia, but instead are due to inadequate care from nursing home staff.
The report suggests that nursing homes are not providing those with dementia with the specialized care they need.
Nursing homes sometimes fail to provide adequate care
We depend on the nursing homes we place loved ones in to provide competent care. Still, inadequate staffing, lack of training and other acts of negligence on the part of nursing homes can place an elderly person in a dangerous situation where they are potentially injured, made ill or even lose their life.
You may be able to identify nursing home neglect if your loved one looks unkempt, becomes nonverbal, acts aggressively or is fearful. If you believe your loved one is being harmed due to nursing home neglect you can take steps to address the situation.
If discussing the matter with nursing home staff does not resolve the situation, you may have to take legal action to hold the nursing home accountable.