Southern California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
Whether you have already made one or more visits to a loved one in San Diego County during the holiday season or you have plans for an upcoming visit, it is a particularly good time of the year to be on the lookout for any signs of elder abuse or neglect if your elderly loved one is living in a nursing home, a skilled nursing facility, an assisted-living facility, or any other type of residential care facility for the elderly (RCFE) in Southern California. The holiday season often involves multiple visits from family and adult children gathering to see their parents, which means adult children and other family members can work together to identify potential abuse or neglect risks.
Making a Plan to Focus on Your Elderly Loved One’s Safety
During the holiday season — or during any time of the year when family members gather to see a loved one in a nursing home or assisted-living facility — it is helpful to make a plan to focus on health and safety. Sporadic visits at other times of the year may be relatively quick, and those visits may involve only one person stopping by an elderly parent’s nursing home room or assisted-living facility residence. When multiple family members are together, especially adult children, they can work together to consider injury risks at the nursing home or other facility and to pay particular attention to warning signs of abuse or neglect.
When a person spots a potential sign of elder abuse, they may not come forward out of concern that they are misperceiving something or because they are not certain. With your family gathering together, you can discuss health and safety (and general well-being) with your elderly loved one, and you can discuss any concerns that arise amongst yourselves and make an important decision to file a report and seek legal advice.
How to Recognize Elder Abuse and Neglect at a Nursing Home or Assisted-Living Facility
For families to properly identify injury risks and signs of abuse or neglect during a holiday visit or other visit to a loved one, it is critical to know the common signs of abuse. The National Institute on Aging cites the following as signs that you and your other family members should look out for, even if they seem subtle:
- Unexplained physical injuries, including bruises, cuts, burns, or broken bones;
- Any signs of restraint or punishment;
- Unexplained or new depression or anxiety in a loved one;
- Unusual changes in a loved one’s behavior;
- Bed sores;
- Unclean living conditions;
- Mood changes in your elderly loved one; and
- Any unexplained infections, including sexually transmitted infections.
Potential slipping and falling hazards, as well as signs like call buttons or phones going unanswered, should also be considered warning signs for injuries and neglect.
Contact a San Diego County Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney
If you or other family members have any concerns about an elderly loved one’s safety, or if you believe your elderly loved one may have been the victim of abuse or neglect, it is important to seek legal help. During the holidays and throughout the year, our experienced San Diego County nursing home neglect attorneys are here to help you. Contact the Walton Law Firm today for assistance.
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