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When a loved one is placed in a nursing home, the family expects that they will remain safe and well cared-for. Unfortunately, lapses in judgment and unsafe habits can result in illness and injury. A recent outbreak of the norovirus at an Illinois senior living facility has placed a spotlight on dangerous hygiene practices in local facilities.
Aging brings new concerns to both those who are experiencing it, and those who will be responsible for their future care. Nursing home abuse, one of the primary concerns, results in over half a million reports annually. It’s up to family members to be vigilant and know how to recognize the signs of nursing home abuse.
Aging brings new concerns to both those who are experiencing it, and those who will be responsible for their future care. Nursing home abuse, one of the primary concerns, results in over half a million reports annually. It’s up to family members to be vigilant and know how to recognize the signs of nursing home abuse.
There are approximately 1.6 million of America’s most vulnerable members of society who reside in nursing homes. While nursing home abuse takes many forms, and the nursing home abuse epidemic has flooded newspapers and news stations across America for quite some time, there is one form of abuse that has seemed to escalate in recent years, and unfortunately, it is difficult to detect.
If you have a loved one in a nursing home, it can be a nervous and scary time. The decision to place a loved one in a home is already difficult in itself. Often, the decision can lead to feelings of guilt and remorse. Those feelings are made worse when you are unable to monitor or see how they are being treated.
Each year the group, Families for Better Care, a nursing home oversight organization publishes a Nursing Home Report Card. The grade considers a number of factors, including: Professional Nurse Hours Per Resident Per Day, Certified Nursing Assistant Hours per Resident per Day, Percentage of Facilities with Above Average Professional Nurse Staffing, Percentage of Facilities with Above Average Health Inspections, Percentage of Facilities with Deficiencies.
The widespread use of smartphones and tablets with photographic and video capability has opened a whole new world to those wishing to keep in touch with family and friends. Social media sites make it easier than it’s ever been to share photos and videos across the globe, instantly.
The Illinois legislature recently passed a bill that would allow families to install cameras and other monitoring devices in loved ones’ nursing home rooms. The bill’s enactment would make Illinois the fourth state in the nation to allow such monitoring.
As medicine and technology advance, the aging population is swelling. The 2010 census showed that people aged 65 and older comprised 13% of the population, with that number expected to rise to 20% by 2050. The fastest growing age group are those people aged 86 and older.
According to recent statistics compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1.4 million Americans are currently long-term residents in nursing facilities. Many people spend years in nursing homes due to old age or physical disability. Unfortunately, residents of these facilities may be at risk for abuse.