Ensuring Nursing Home Regulations Reduce Elder Abuse: Ensuring Compliance May Help Minimize the Consequences of Nursing Home Neglect

While abuse and neglect is a crime in any form, the elderly are particularly vulnerable. An early study conducted to uncover the effects of elder abuse found that the mortality rates for elders who had been abused was significantly higher than expected. With over three times the risk of death than those who had not been abused, elderly patients who were referred for protective services oftentimes succumbed to the effects of the abuse. The best way to avoid these types of tragedies is to ensure that any nursing home or elder care facility is fully compliant with all nursing home regulations. Nursing home regulations vary from state to state, however, at the very minimum, you should ensure that: 1. There is adequate staff, and resident requests are responded to quickly. 2. The staff is courteous and professional when dealing with residents. 3. There is licensed support staff, such as social workers and therapists. 4. The facility conducts thorough background checks on all staff. 5. All medical staff are properly educated and certified. 6. The director is helpful, open, and willing to address all questions and concerns promptly. Be familiar with your state's laws regarding nursing home regulations, and be prepared to ask the administrator to explain exactly how the facility complies with all requirements. The consequences of elder abuse are too serious to leave to chance. Be sure that nursing home regulations are met before committing your loved one to a long-term care facility, nursing home, or elder care center. If you find that your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, contact the authorities and retain the services of an experienced nursing home negligence attorney as soon as possible.