San Francisco California Elder Abuse Law Blog

When people hear about violence against nursing home residents, they often think about it being at the hands of the staff members. They don't think about the possibility of residents becoming violent toward each other. This is known as resident-to-resident elder mistreatment, or RREM.

Unfortunately, there isn't much research on RREM, which can make it difficult to understand. Without an understanding of it, long-term care facilities might not be as prepared to stop it from happening. This has a negative impact on everyone in the facility, including other residents.

Whether you saw it coming or it snuck up on you, it became abundantly clear that your parent could no longer take care of him- or herself. You may have tried taking care of your parent yourself, but your second realization was that you didn't have the skills needed to care for him or her.

Now, you face finding a nursing home that you believe will take care of your loved one the way you would. But, after hearing all of the negative stories about nursing homes, you may have some anxiety about making this choice.

It’s a parent’s job to protect their children. They teach their kids how to be safe, make the right decisions and protect themselves from the harsh world around them. However, who protects the parents?

Eventually, it becomes the child’s responsibility to help their parents find a safe space for their retirement and allow them to age gracefully. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to complete that task.

Nursing home residents aren't in a care facility because they are able to care for themselves. They rely on the staff members to help with their daily needs, and they can suffer great harm if those workers don't provide them with the appropriate care.

It is important for relatives of residents to watch what is going on in the facility and make sure that their loved one's needs are met. Certain signs can indicate that a resident is being neglected or even abused. Trying to catch those incidents quickly so you can put a stop to them is a top priority. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Residents might be reluctant to speak up about what is going on. In some cases, they might not have the understanding or communication skills to relay the information, especially if they have dementia. They may also fear retaliation if they tell on a staff member.
• There are different types of abuse and neglect. Falls and wandering may indicate a lack of supervision. Bedsores and urinary tract infections may indicate outright neglect. Unexplained bruises can mean physical abuse. Missing items or missing money can mean financial abuse. Even psychological or sexual abuse is possible, so watch for behavioral changes.