Caution Urged: Poor Patient Hygiene Directly tied to Elder Neglect in Nursing Homes.
Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) June 30, 2014 -- The Stop EA (Elder Abuse) campaign has recently launched a new campaign to remind those who have loved ones in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to watch for signs of poor hygiene because it could be a result of elder neglect or a red flag that your loved one is at an increased risk of elder neglect and abuse.
Poor hygiene is usually directly related to a failure of nursing home or assisted living facility staff to attend to residents properly.
“The most important aspect of recognizing neglect is involving yourself in your loved one’s care, and a key part of that is analyzing their personal hygiene,” said Jay Renneisen. “A general lack of cleanliness can indicate much greater problems with the basic level of care being provided to your family member.”
Those who have a loved one in a facility should make sure they are being bathed properly, that their teeth and gums are healthy, their clothes are clean and that their skin looks healthy and is free from pressure sores or "pressure ulcers."
"These aren't the only things you should watch for, but they are good examples of how you can monitor your family member to make sure they are receiving the care they need," Renneisen said.
Under the law, elder neglect includes: the failure to assist in personal hygiene or the provision of food, clothing, or shelter; the failure to provide medical care for physical and mental health needs; and the failure to protect from health and safety hazards.
The Stop EA campaign, a California law firm and collection of elder advocates founded by three experienced elder abuse attorneys, seeks justice for families whose loved one’s have been harmed in these facilities and tries to make sure that the same thing does not happen to the next vulnerable, unsuspecting family.
Those who are concerned about the quality of care their loved ones received (or are receiving) in a nursing home or assisted living facility can obtain a free, private case evaluation from Stop EA by calling 1-866-864-1800.
For more information on the campaign, identifying more symptoms of neglect and informational videos, visit stopea.org.
Jay Renneisen, Stop EA, http://stopea.org, +1 916-442-6000, [email protected]
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