Nursing home abuse is a terrible problem that is striking our country and leaving many of our sickest and neediest citizens helpless and in pain. Nursing homes are becoming more and more understaffed in the quest for a good profit margin, and the elderly residents of these nursing homes are the people who are suffering because of it. This danger is one that is heartbreakingly common, and one that should not be overlooked by families when looking into long term care facilities for their aging relatives.

It might seem insane to think that the very people who go to school for years in order to learn how to care for other people might be the very ones who are neglecting them, but nurse burnout is a terrible truth because of the way that our nurses are often treated themselves. Nurses are constantly overworked with far more patients than they have the time or ability to care for and told to do their best.

They are additionally dealing with patients who might be less than coherent and less than present mentally due to strokes or other medical conditions. This can lead to nurses having to deal with call buttons pressed constantly and adults who need to be cared for like infants.

When constantly overworked nurses and mediocre pay are combined with some of the neediest people in our society, things can get ugly. Nurses become exhausted and burn out, and many quit or go into different lines of work within a couple of years. Many other nurses become angry or frustrated enough to neglect or even outright abuse elderly patients in their care, especially when these patients cannot talk back or stand up for themselves anymore.

The best way to protect your loved ones when they are put into long term care facilities is to be there for them in every way. Be physically present for visits as often as possible to help the nurses see your relative as a person, and not as just another job, and to keep them happier and more comfortable.

While you are at the nursing home, talk to your elderly relatives if they are still capable, and find out if there have been any problems for them. You should know immediately if a call button is broken or if it took too long for your old mother to get a glass of water. You might be tempted to dismiss their complaints as exaggeration, however your relative might also have been neglected while you were away. It is always better to be safe and check in with the nursing staff to make sure that your relative's needs are being met.

Some of the other signs of nursing home abuse include mysterious injuries like bruises or broken bones. If a patient is having a hard time getting the attention or care that they deserve, they may become worked up enough to try to move from their bed to help themselves, sometimes resulting in falls and injuries.

In other cases, they may be subjected to other forms of abuse such as being strapped into their beds or actually being physically beaten by staff members. Do not assume abuse at the first sign of injury, but listen carefully to how it was supposed to have happened and watch for further injuries to your elderly relatives.

Dehydration is another thing to watch out for when it comes to nursing home abuse. Your relative's eyes should be moist, they should urinate regularly, and they should be able to produce spit. If they are being denied water, they could take a quick turn for the worse and pass away very quickly, so this is an important thing to watch out for, as is the parallel problem of malnutrition.

Bed sores also could be a sign that your relative is not being treated properly. If they are not being helped to turn over, they could develop painful sores that could even potentially become infected. Also watch for your relative's behavior around the nurses. If they flinch away or act fearful around the nursing staff, it might be time to consider a new facility.

Elder abuse and nursing home abuse in particular is quite dangerous and a very sad reality of our society. Being present in the lives of our elderly relatives and paying careful attention to their behavior can help us to keep them out of bad situations and keep them safe and as comfortable as possible.