If you are a caregiver of a loved one, you may provide a lot of support over the phone or on weekends when you can care for them in person. This can mean that you are not able to be with them physically when they need it the most. Therefore, another caregiver may be employed to look out for their daily needs.
You are right to prioritize the safety and the well-being of your loved one, and this is why you may become easily concerned if your loved one is acting out-of-character. You may wonder if they are being subjected to elder abuse by one of their nurses. Neglect by a nurse is also called nursing malpractice. The following are some key signs of neglect or elder abuse as a long-distance caregiver.
Stress-related behaviors, including hoarding
If your loved one used to be a relatively care-free person, you may notice a change in their outlook if they are being subjected to abuse. For example, they may become easily panicked or start hoarding items. They may also lose their temper often or start mumbling to themselves. These can be signs of both physical and emotional abuse.
Refusing to treat illnesses or concerned about taking medication
If your loved one is being abused, they may start to become suspicious of all caregivers. This may mean that they become fearful of seeking medical attention or that they no longer want to take their medication.
Poor hygiene
A caregiver’s job is to maintain the hygiene and the well-being of their patient. If your loved one is not clean, they can be more susceptible to illness and infection. Bad hygiene is often a precursor to bed sores, which is typically a big warning sign of nursing home neglect.
It is important to look into your options if you have any reason to suspect elder abuse as a long-distance caregiver. While Michigan is the second worst state for nursing home abuse, we still have laws in place to protect vulnerable people, and our Southfield elder abuse lawyers want to help.
Contact our Southfield nursing home abuse lawyers at Lipton Law for a free consultation. We can help if you believe your loved one may be a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect. Your loved one may be entitled to abuse or neglect damages.