Stay Involved in Your Loved One's Care and Possibly Prevent Abuse

If you stay involved in the care of your loved one, you’re much more likely to prevent or stop abuse than someone who has deferred all care decisions to the nursing home.  If your loved one frequently has infections, speak to the doctor and find out if a medical condition is the cause of all of these infections.  If you notice bruising on your loved one’s body, ask about slips or falls and check into the level of supervision and assistance provided to your loved one when getting out of bed or getting to and from the bathroom.  If your loved one suffers a broken bone or fracture, ask for documentation of how the injury occurred.  You have the right to speak with the person in charge of your loved one’s medical care and you also have the right to ask questions about any unexplained injuries, bruising, behavioral changes, or other signs of possible abuse.  If you stay quiet and fail to stand up for your rights, you are giving abusers more opportunities to abuse your loved one and you’re giving the nursing home administrators more time to cover up any incidents.  If you stay involved and stand up for your right to information about the care of your loved one, you will be more likely to prevent abuse or to stop abuse if it has started occurring.  Ask questions about the qualifications and training of staff members, find out which staff members have been caring for your loved one, ask questions about any unexplained injuries, and communicate with your loved one about the level of care they are receiving.  If you feel that the facility does not provide adequate answers to your questions, contacting an Orange County nursing home abuse attorney can show them that you are serious about this issue and will not stop until your questions have been answered.