Coping

Helping your loved one through nursing home abuse will be a difficult experience for you and them. But, it is important to provide your support during this time. Here, you can learn about ways that you can help your loved one as they come to terms with nursing home abuse and neglect.

There are many ways that you can offer your support to someone who was mistreated in a nursing home. Here are some common ways that you can help them through this time.

Remove Them From the Nursing Home

One of the first steps that you should take in order to prevent future abuse and help your loved one heal is to take them out of the nursing home. Soon after the incident, you loved one might feel most comfortable coming home. Talk with your family about letting your elderly loved one stay in someone’s home for a few weeks. Or, you can find another home for your loved one. If you do find another home, be sure that abuse will not happen there. Check in on your loved one frequently.

Contact the Police

To keep your loved one safe and prevent future incidents, you should inform the police of this issue. This can give your loved one peace of mind.

Lend an Ear

Everyone deals with abuse differently. Your loved one might feel uncomfortable talking to anyone about what happened. But, they might want to discuss how they feel and what to do next. If this is the case, make sure that you are available to listen to your family member. These conversations might seem difficult for both of you, but if your loved one needs to talk you should support them.

Get Professional Help

You might not be equipped to deal with this situation. If this is the case, consider hiring a therapist to help your loved one through this time. A therapist will know how to handle this situation and find your loved one the help that they need.

Consider a Support Group

If one-on-one therapy isn’t helping, your loved one might benefit from a support group. They can interact with other people who have gone through similar issues. These people might have insight to help them through the experience.

Treat Your Loved One

Showing your loved one that your family cares is important at this time. Try to do something special for your loved one. Whether you have a small family gathering, take your loved one out to dinner, or spend the day doing something that they love, your loved one will appreciate it.

File a Personal Injury Claim

Some people choose to file a personal injury claim after nursing home abuse. Talk about this option with your loved one. In some cases, people don’t want to pursue this option. In other cases, they do. Whatever your loved one decides, you should be supportive.

These are just a few ways that you can help your loved one cope with nursing home abuse. For more information, visit the other pages in this section or contact our firm.