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You can’t be with your loved one at every moment, but there are specific things that you can do to help protect her from nursing home abuse at all times. As the loved one of someone in an Iowa nursing home, you can:
- Learn the rights of nursing home patients. Nursing home residents have certain rights that are protected by law and that nursing homes cannot take away. These rights include—but are not limited to—the right to receive reasonable care and to live free from the fear of abuse.
- Recognize the risk factors of abuse. Any nursing home resident may be abused. However, those who have dementia or other physical problems that make them unreliable reporters may be at an increased risk of suffering a nursing home abuse injury.
- Know the signs and symptoms of abuse. Any physical problem or change in behavior that cannot be explained by your loved one’s medical condition or medications may be signs of abuse.
- Take action if you suspect abuse. There are certain steps that you can take to protect your loved one from further harm and to protect her right to a fair recovery.
- Avoid making mistakes if you suspect abuse. Some mistakes may put your loved one in further physical danger or interfere with her right to a fair recovery.
- Report suspected nursing home abuse. Nursing home abuse should be reported to the state of Iowa, to emergency responders, and to the nursing home administrators if appropriate.
You can help protect your loved one, but you can’t prevent all instances of abuse. If your loved one is hurt, don’t spend any time feeling guilty for what happened. Instead, take action as described above, make sure that your loved one is currently safe, and encourage her to speak to an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer about protecting her rights. You can learn more about what to do in our free book, Guide for Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Victims: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Legal Rights and Get Every Dollar You Deserve, or you can call us at any time to schedule a free consultation.
