2 Warning Signs Your Parent With Dementia Is Being Neglected At The Nursing Home

If your parent has dementia, you may have to place them in a nursing home to ensure they receive around-the-clock professional care. However, you may have started to suspect that your loved one is not receiving the care they need. If you are suspicious that the nursing home staff is neglecting your parent, look for the following warning signs.

Sudden Weight Loss and Dehydration

While it is expected that your parent may lose some weight when adjusting to their new environment, you should not see a rapid drop in their weight. If you notice that your parent is starting to become very thin, it is possible that the staff is bringing the food tray but neglecting to set it up or taking the time to feed them.

Also, they may start showing signs of dehydration. One way you can tell if their body is dry is to pull up on the skin on the back of their hand. If the skin does not snap back within a couple of seconds, there is not enough moisture in the cells.

To see if your parent is not being fed, find out the time the dinner trays are delivered to the rooms. Then, visit your loved one a half an hour past this time to see if they are eating. If the tray is placed across the room and no one is bothering to feed your parent, this is a sign of neglect that could lead to both starvation and dehydration.

Pressure Ulcers on Their Buttocks or Heels

If you parent is unable to turn themselves, the nursing home staff is supposed to follow a strict schedule of repositioning them every few hours. This repositioning helps decrease the risk of skin breakdown that leads to pressure ulcers.

While these bed sores can appear on any part of the body where the bone is close to the skin, they are commonly found on the heels of the feet and at the top of the buttocks. If left untreated, these sores can become severely infected, possibly leading to a body-wide infection known as sepsis.

While visiting your parent, check their back and heels for reddened areas or tissue breakdown. If you find any ulcers, ask the nursing staff if any treatment has begun. Especially if they were unaware of the sores' existence, this is a sign that they have not been properly turning and taking care of your loved one.

If you see any of the warning signs or suspect that your parent is not being taken care of properly at their nursing home, you may want to speak with a nursing home neglect lawyer. They can help guide you on what steps to take next to ensure your loved one's safety and well-being.