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Spotting Nursing Home Neglect in North Carolina Assisted Living Facilities

While incidents of physical and aggressive nursing home abuse can be very clear-cut and apparent, assisted living neglect can be harder to spot even though it can be just as dangerous and deplorable. For example, in June 2007, a resident with Alzheimer's disease at Alvardo's Family Care in North Carolina was not properly supervised - while wandering on the grounds of the facility she was struck and killed by a truck.

Other instances of neglect include:

• Staff members not administering needed medications or failing to administer the correct amount of medication at the appropriate times.
• Staff members failing to report or treat new medical issues.
• Lack of supervision of residents or abandonment of residents.
• Unsafe, harmful, or dangerous living conditions.
• Unsanitary living conditions.
• Untrained staff.
• Unnecessary restraint.

Elder neglect can be very physically and emotionally damaging - some instances of elder abuse can even lead to death. When you place a loved one such as a parent or grandparent in an adult care facility, you put your trust into the hands of those running and staffing the home. However, the neglect of seniors in nursing homes in North Carolina happens more often than you might think and many of the instances of assisted living neglect go unreported or unnoticed.

What are some of the subtle signs of nursing home neglect?

• Your loved one seems over- or under medicated. This could imply that the resident is not receiving the correct dosage of her or her prescriptions or that they are not getting their medicine as often as prescribed.
• Your loved one has bedsores. This could be a sign that the resident is not being turned often enough or is left in an uncomfortable position.
• Your loved one looks malnourished or dehydrated. These are signs that the resident may not be receiving proper amounts of food or water.
• Your loved one and your loved one's surroundings are dirty or unsanitary. Bed pans should be emptied often and sheets, clothes, and undergarments should be changed often. Failure to do so could lead to infection, disease, and a general low quality of living.
• The staff delays your visit or will not allow you to visit with your loved one alone. Delays in your visit could imply that the staff is cleaning up the room before you have a chance to see what state it is in.
• Your loved one shows sudden changes in behavior or demeanor. Sometimes the only sign of neglect is not physical - pay close attention to how the resident is acting and if they show signs of depression, aggression, agitation, or withdrawal.

Your loved ones deserve to be treated with humanity, respect, and kindness. More than that, they deserve basic care including the correct administering of their medications and close and thoughtful observation and supervision. Keep a watchful eye to report any unprofessional, unsafe, or unacceptable behavior - don't let another case of nursing home neglect go unreported in North Carolina.

For more information on North Carolina nursing homes and their track records, visit the NC Division of Health and Human Services page on adult care home violations and penalties.

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