You Are Your Loved One's Best Advocate in Nursing Home Abuse Cases

Because nursing home abuse is a problem that affects many people who are not able to stand up for their own rights and defend themselves against abuse and neglect in nursing homes and other care facilities, the community must bear the responsibility for preventing abuse and neglect and holding nursing home administrators accountable when abuse does occur.  The people in the community who can help with these efforts can be considered advocates for the elderly since they will be helping to ensure their comfort and safety as they live in their nursing home facilities.  Understanding who these advocates are and how to access their services can help you to combat nursing home abuse and protect your loved one if they are in a nursing home facility.  However, you may be your loved one’s best possible advocate when it comes to dealing with nursing home abuse and neglect.  Only you can understand the changes in your loved one’s behavior or very subtle changes in their bodies that take place when abuse occurs.  Where a community advocate might have attributed to the change to something else, you know your loved one well enough to notice that something is wrong.  Because you can stand up for their rights, your loved one stands to benefit a great deal if you stay involved in their care and make sure to keep tabs on what is going on in the nursing home facility.