Who is responsible for the care of the elderly in nursing homes?

Question

If elder abuse is happening and know family is around who watches out for these patients?

Answer 1

I don't know a lot about other states but in California there is a group of Volunteers called Ombudsmen who are trained in caring for the rights of Elder Citizens.

Any Elder abuse in a care facility should be reported to them with all the details you can gather. They will take it from there.

I think, though I'm not positive, that other states have them too.

BTW Care Facilities have a tendency to pay very good attention when mention is made of reporting something to the Ombudsman.

Answer 2

this is not a toughy as you might think, I used to work in a nursing home many years ago. there are some steps to take before a loved one enters a nursing home. Unless someone is actually there for the feedings, bathings, grooming, changing of clothing if needed, to give medicationsas needed to make sure the doctors appointments are made and kept,the belongings are not stolen, as you can see it gets rather difficult to assess. I was an assistant to the nurses, I saw enough in my lifetime there to fill many lifetimes. It as sickening to see these people being dropped off, and forgotten, by their families, abused by the other residents ( especially ) if the gereatric, mentally challenged, or just plain mental patients are leaving them alone. can the patient actually help themselves or defend themselves? Is the staff reputable? are the workers overworked? Yeah, I know thats no excuse the staff should care and most do. but, there are the few that feel they are owed more money, more whatever... I guess by now you get the picture. there are all kinds of people out there, who will not love your loved one as much as you do. but, there are many that do. A good way to find out is to visit the place and volunteer your time. a good place to start is to join one of those places that provide petso the facility. or even to read to the residents and listen to them tell their lives to you. not all will be receptive but you will find out who get the family visit or who is happy, clean, and does the place smell like urine or are the people being cared for, like being changed right away to prevent skin problems and hygene problems. you may even get close to a few people. but, be prepared for the things you will see or hear and all that goes along with the adventure you might take. I was close to several of my patients and tried to help as much as humanly possible. I had from the elderly to the mental too. That was really hard, you will need to know how to handle them, by that I mean the patients may see you as someone from their past depending on the type or reason the patient is in the facility. but, to give your time is a great experience for them and you, it can be a learning thing.

Answer 3

I am a nursing assistant in a nursing home and Id like to say that I take care of and watch out for these patients. I am answerable to my nurse manager, the residents and their relatives and to the Aged Care Accreditation team who monitor nursing homes here in Australia. I am also a union delegate and represent the other assistants in my workplace when we have any issues. Every single one of the people I work with treats the patients with dignity and respect. Its me who notices when an elderly person isnt eating, when they run out of underwear, when they are depressed, and I do what I can, sometimes even buying them underwer out of my own pocket.... because their families just dont. Its this same family, though, who will tear my head off if I dress grandma in the pink dress when they wanted blue, or if I forget to give her her coffee in the special cup they gave her. Sometimes we cant attend to a person the moment they need it..... sometimes they do have to wait to be changed .... but we have a lot of people to look after, and they all need help. Yesterday I dodged punches from an old man as I cleaned him up after an 'accident'.... I also prepared for the funeral home a man I had looked after for 9 years... this is not an easy thing to do. Please know that its a hard job that I do, and be like the many wonderful families of the oldies that I look after who understand that sometimes I will make mistakes, but that I try my best at all times.

Answer 4

You can contact Medicare and/or Medicaid as well as Dept of Aging & Disability to report suspected abuse or non-compliance with regulations. You can also contact Adult Protective Services about specific cases.

Also, you can speak to the nursing home administrator, the State Licensing Bureau for Nursing, and the Joint Commission for Hospital Organizations. You can even contact AARP and speak to their legal counsel about it. Then there is the American Civil Liberties Union who might help as well as the Better Business Bureau.

All of these agencies can impact the care a client receives in nursing facilities. If you are concerned about a particular individual, contact the NH Administrator first and be sure to document the conversation and action taken to correct problems. If nothing else contact your congressman.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Contact the county offices where they live and usually there is an Area Agency for the Elderly and they or someone will check out your complaint. These usually can be reported with out identifing yourself. Get this person help, if all else fails call the police and they will get the agencies involved.

Answer 6

Elderly abuse does not go on in all nursing homes.
The Nurses, aides, and staff are suppose to take care of them and they do. God bless

Answer 7

It is sad, but true, that in some few cases, no one watches out for them when there is no family. However, in most states there are agencies available to report any mistreatment. If you want to report someone, look at the link I have provided for help.

Answer 8

everybody that works there should be watching for this and reporting it as soon as they see it.

Answer 9

call the police and they will forward you to the right people