Joshua T Craig

Nursing homes are meant to be havens of safety, dignity and comfort for our elderly relatives who can no longer care for themselves. Sadly, not all companies meet this duty! Although there are nursing homes that offer compassionate care, some negligent operators run them with overwhelmingly low staffing and in the name of profit only, causing thousands of residents to be harmed or placed at risk.

1. Warning Signs of Care Failures in Medicare Certified Nursing Homes:
   – Unsanitary Conditions: Dirty bedding; dirty clothing; unwashed residents.

• Untreated Medical Issues: Bedsores, infections, or worsening health conditions left ignored.
  Malnutrition and Dehydration: Missed meals, inferior food eaten or no help with eating.
  Emotional Neglect: Ignoring, isolating or treating residents as if they do not matter.

1. Chronic understaffing plays a major part in inadequate care. Without enough nurses and caregivers, residents wait longer for care, miss medications or hardly get noticed. That staff burnout can result in the form of frustration, hurried care and even verbal (and occasionally physical) abuse.
2. It is also true that some nursing homes, particularly those run by for-profit companies, will cut corners to save money even at the expense of residents well-being. It could also translate into hiring less-experienced staff, having older equipment, or even failing to supply essential items such as healthy food and medical supplies.
3. This particular kind of neglect can have many repercussions not just in physical health but also in emotional well-being. Depression, anxiety and feeling helpless may occur among elderly residents who feel neglected or abused. In more serious cases, inadequate care can lead to a shorter lifespan.
4. Holding Facilities Accountable
   Families can do a lot to protect their own:

• Visiting regularly and unannounced
  Recording Any Neglect
• Intergactions with staff and management regarding concerns
  File complains with state health depts or elder agencies

Final Thought:
A nursing home is ultimately a skilled care community, meaning that the elderly that reside there deserve to be treated well and with respect – not just ignored until they die. Inspiration for a higher quality of life for our neglected older adults, getting everyone to live with dignity in their final years.