Preventing Elder Abuse In Nursing Home Facilities
The idea that anyone could bring harm to an elder is quite distressing. Responsible nursing homes implement safeguards to protect senior citizens from abuse. Some of the defenses to prevent abuse include active involvement by the proper authorities, educating the public, screening workers, proper procedures and protocols, and good working conditions. Law enforcement, advocacy organizations, and other regulatory agencies have a responsibility to take this issue seriously. If the authorities don’t stop abuse, who can? These organizations should be coordinated and each suspected case should be handled promptly and thoroughly. This applies even if the patient is known to suffer from a condition which makes them prone to telling falsehoods. Patients like this are even more vulnerable because the abuser may assume no one may believe the patient. The public must be made aware that abuse is a real danger to the older generation. It’s not just something that happens in the recesses of American society. It’s happening all over the place. They need to know the signs of abuse and thoroughly investigate any long term care facility prior to admitting their parent, spouse, grandparent, or such into such a facility. Awareness groups are around who specialize in making sure the elderly are well treated and given the proper care and respect. Workers must be adequately screened for any criminal background. Any indication that the worker has violent tendencies, a lack of patience, or even seems uncaring should signal that they are not fit to work in a nursing home. Drug use or abuse of alcohol is also a recipe for disaster. Working in a nursing home can be depressing and stressful. Facilities need to make sure that their employees can hold up under the pressure and behave ethically at all times. Rules should be in place so that the elderly have somewhere to turn should they be a victim of abuse. Any facility should have someone who comes by and visits with the patient at regular intervals. This person should make sure the patients needs are being met. They should also act as a sounding board in case the resident needs to confide in them. Finally, nursing homes need to recognize that caring for the elderly is hard work. There’s just nothing glamorous about undressing and bathing an old person, or acting as a sounding board for an unruly patient. Part of helping workers doing their best means making sure that they’re taken care of as well. They also need to know where to turn to if they suspect or witness abuse. Employees should be properly paid, get time off, have someone they can talk to when they get frustrated, not being overworked, proper recognition, and be properly educated in managing stress. |