There may come a time in someone's life when you face the difficult decision of putting a parent(s) in a nursing home. Moving a family member is never an easy decision and you want them to be safe in the care facility. Though nursing homes do a lot of good, abuse is a serious issue at many facilities.

Neglect occurs when a person does not get the care they need. The amount of care a resident needs can be circumstantial, but it often includes personal hygiene and assistance with eating and mobility. Although the signs of neglect can vary per case, it is important to know the common warning signs that your loved one is at risk.

Poor personal hygiene

This is where nursing home residents do not have adequate assistance with cleaning, brushing their teeth, bathing or other types of hygiene practices. When a person is neglected, they may try to do things on their own and are often incapable of doing so. You may notice a change of appearance when visiting your loved one.

Unsanitary living conditions

Failing to provide safe and clean-living conditions could be a sign a nursing home is neglecting their residents. Federal law states that nursing homes must “establish and maintain an infection control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment in which residents reside…”

Dehydration and malnourished

If a nursing home does not have enough qualified staff, residents in that home many not receive all the food or fluids they need. Poor nutrition affects millions of people in nursing homes across the country. Medical problems like difficulty swallowing can also play a role in malnutrition.

You may also be suspicious of nursing home neglect if your loved one has unexplained injuries. Injuries such as a broken bone or bruises could be a major sign that neglect is taking place in the home. Also, be aware of social and emotional neglect. Over-stressed staff may ignore the resident or take their frustrations out on them by