If you have a loved one in a Greenville nursing home, you probably have quite a few concerns about the quality of care. While many nursing homes go above and beyond in terms of seeing to resident needs, unfortunately there are still quite a few that fall short of their duties. Being able to recognize instances of abuse or neglect is crucial in this case and U.S. News & World Report offers the following advice to help you do so.
Discomfort With Certain Staff Members
The people who provide care to your loved one at a nursing home are like a second family. As a result, forming a close bond with these people tends to happen naturally, especially in long-term situations. If a loved one expresses discomfort or fear of a particular staff member, it’s best to get to the bottom of why these feelings are happening. While it may not necessarily indicate abuse, it could also signal that your family member is being mistreated in some way.
Nutritional Neglect
Many residents of nursing homes are unable to prepare meals due to mobility issues. It’s up to staff to ensure that all residents are getting their daily nutritional allowances as well as being provided an abundance of fluids (especially water). Dehydration (which is characterized by fatigue, frequent headaches, and confusion) is a huge red flag that a person’s diet is lacking.
Disorderly Staff
The general atmosphere of a nursing home can also provide information on quality. Is the staff frequently unorganized and scrambling to answer phones or see to residents’ needs? While this can occur from time to time, when it’s a frequent occurrence it may be cause for alarm. You can also tell a lot by the demeanor of the staff members. Sullen or belligerent staff can point to a poor working environment, which will unfortunately trickle down to your loved one as well.