Improvements in the quality of care at nursing homes are needed
Many people put their elderly parents in nursing homes to receive the care they need. Most people are unaware that sending their loved-ones to a facility can put them at risk. A two-year time frame saw elderly abuse reported at 30% of nursing homes across America. These places are a breeding ground for different forms of abuse, such as physical, financial, and emotional. All of these are not always good reasons. To stop the abuse of elderly patients, these facilities need to improve and follow their legal obligations more closely. Nursing homes and other elder-care facilities need to improve their quality of care because many elderly patients are treated inhumanely. Even though they may be old, they are still human beings and should receive the treatment they deserve.
In these facilities, there are a variety of forms of abuse, but the three most prevalent are financial, emotional and physical abuse. These activities can be carried out on their loved one without them even noticing. The most common form of abuse that is reported in nursing care is physical abuse. This is because it can be seen immediately. Physical abuse can be any form of abuse, including kicking or hitting someone, restraints that are excessive, medication withholding, or the administration of unnecessary dosages. These can include bruises, fractures, and side-effects from medication. The emotional abuse is less visible. Emotional abuse can be classified as verbal or physical abuse. Although emotional abuse’s signs are much less obvious than those associated with physical abuse it is not any less abhorrent or common. Financial abuse of the elderly is one form of manipulation that leaves no other evidence than a trail of paper. They are often confused, and may not even know what’s going on in their financial situation. This is a vulnerability that people exploit. Because people are so willing to exploit and take advantage elderly people, they become vulnerable. Most common financial abuses against the elderly are scamming, healthcare fraud, and theft of credit card accounts. People will often convince elderly people to buy things they don’t need, such as medical services (Landers). 2-4). Inhumane treatment of people is not acceptable, particularly in care facilities where elderly people are meant to feel secure and cared for. These situations are completely unjustified and unnecessary. There is no excuse for treating people this way, but there are some reasons. Three main reasons are: a staff that is uncaring, a family that has been forgotten, and profit. The nursing home staff is the main cause of abuse against the elderly. Some nurses in nursing homes feel that they do not get enough compensation for their work and take it out on their patients. David Ruppe says, “The reimbursements for nursing assistants are low in comparison to the needs of residents, so they are paid around $7-$9 per hour.” 19). This is because the amount received is far below the amount deserved. Some nurses steal from their patients out of desperation and frustration. The nurses may be at fault for this behavior, and it is true that they do behave in this manner, but only when there are no visitors. Most often, elderly relatives will only visit their families sparingly. They are the main targets. Nursing staff treat patients in a way that is unprofessional and negligent. The companies who own these facilities, not the people involved directly, such as untrustworthy employees and absentee family members, should be held accountable for their negligence. In America, 69 percent of nursing home are run to make money. It is money that’s being saved and made, not the patients. It is unlikely that abuse occurs as frequently if there was more security or people watching for these obscure behaviors. The owners will do this if overcharging elderly patients and not buying them extra supplies makes more money for the owner. Many non-profit facilities use volunteers and fundraisers in order to provide care for patients. 27). The reasons for poor treatment in nursing homes is not an excuse, but it’s the most common reason. It’s possible to stop this behavior by following the legal rules that nursing homes must follow.
It is possible for these abuses to happen because federal and state laws do not specify the exact nature of their provisions. Nursing Home Reform Act is one law that states nursing homes have to “provide services and activity in order to maintain or attain the highest practicable mental, physical, and psychological well-being for each resident according a written plan.” 1). The basic law has been broken in nursing home abuse. The nursing home staff often violates a few federal regulations. The facility must be staffed with enough nurses, according to the first federal regulation. Nursing homes often have nurses who are overworked and stressed out by the sheer number of patients they care for. More funding would allow these facilities to hire more employees and solve or assist in many violence problems. These issues would allow for other regulations to be adhered to, such as one that says nursing homes are required to “Prevent deterioration in a resident’s abilities to bathe and dress, groom and transfer, ambulate and toilet, eat and communicate” (FNHRSL). 2). If patients are mistreated, they will lose the ability of completing many tasks independently, whether or not they are in severe physical pain. No one should be unable to maintain cleanliness or communicate with others. This regulation states that the dignity and respectful treatment of patients must be maintained. 2). It is impossible for an elderly person who is abused, threatened, or robbed to maintain their dignity and respect. Charles Ornstein describes, for example, how a nursing assistant is accused of sharing a Snapchat photo of a nursing home resident on the toilet. 19). This kind of embarrassment is terrible for anyone. Even if it were an elderly patient being “taken in” by the nurses. Anyone would find it embarrassing to be unable to take care of themselves. Abuse is even worse. Losing dignity can lead to mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression. According to American Psychological Association’s (APA), mental disorders like these can cause death or suicide in older people. 11). In nursing homes, the nurses and various other factors are responsible for causing many people to lose both their dignity and their mental well-being. These federal regulations and laws may seem morally correct but many institutions don’t follow them. This results in the elderly being treated inhumanely.
Even though this abuse occurs in many nursing homes across the United States it is important to note that not all of them are involved. Nursing homes are often viewed as having many positives by individuals. In some cases, a constant supply of care can be very useful for those patients who cannot care for themselves. 3). These residences offer a structured routine that is easy for patients to adjust to. As people age, they rely more on repetition and schedules to help them remember and accomplish daily tasks. Many patients can benefit from following a strict daily schedule. However, they do not like the fact that it limits their freedom (Wood). 5). There is also a large amount of socialization and free time in nursing homes run correctly. There are also presentations or games for residents. When you reach an age where you are no longer able to walk around and talk with people, it is vital that your social life is active. It is not good for people to lie in bed all day watching cable. 7). There are many benefits to the care that seniors receive in a nursing home. Not all nursing facilities are reliable and people should be aware of what to look for.
If a family member is better off in a care facility, that’s what you should do. Nursing homes are not all horror stories. There are nursing homes that operate for profit and put the money before the elderly residents. It is important to be aware of what abuses could occur. Abuse of the elderly is most often reported in three forms: financial, emotional, or physical. It is mainly because there are no caring staff members or family present. Profits for companies that own these facilities also play a major role. These obscene and illegal acts continue despite laws that require these facilities to comply with. It is not even noticed that these patients’ human rights are being violated. The issues could be easily fixed. Nursing homes and elder care facilities need to improve their quality of care because many elderly people feel inhumanely treated. Many nursing homes show their patients the utmost respect and care. However, there are still many that treat these people like animals or as objects. Although the elderly may not be young, they still deserve to receive respect and care.
