When we think of our elder family members, love and compassion come to mind. We only want the best for them. We wish to shower them with the adoration and appreciation that they have surrendered to us throughout all of these years. We want to act as the nourishment which allows them to flourish. Thus, as they reach the point in their lives in which they can no longer care for themselves on a daily basis, it becomes vital that they find a new setting where they feel most comfortable. This setting must exemplify the same sense of confidence and satisfaction that their previous houses did, a home away from home in a sense. Yet, too frequently these nursing homes become the setting in which these individuals feel neither comfort nor confidence, but neglect and fear. Accordingly, it is essential that these nursing homes act as a center of refuge for these aging individuals. When this is accomplished, it becomes possible for them to endure the same sense of tenderness and kind-heartedness that they have embodied throughout the years.
As individuals enter nursing homes, we trust the caregivers in this setting. We rely on the individuals in these facilities to provide the same care that we would if we were able to. However, recently these services have been diminishing along with the trust that we assign to these caregivers and residential homes. For instance, as individuals age, they become more likely to forget the tasks associated with daily living, such as eating a meal or drinking water, which are both necessary for a vigorous existence. In these cases, it becomes vital that these individuals are reminded to drink water to ensure that they avoid fatal conducts, such as seizures, kidney failure, and even comas (https://coganpower.com/blog/nursing-home-dehydration/). However, it is projected that approximately 500 nursing home residents perish each year from dehydration alone (https://coganpower.com/blog/nursing-home-dehydration/).
Still, there are symptoms of dehydration that can be monitored. Elder individuals should be examined daily to ensure not only that these symptoms are nonexistent, but that the individuals are healthy. Factors such as heart rate, inability to urinate, and insomnia often correlate with dehydration (https://coganpower.com/blog/nursing-home-dehydration/). In other cases, disabilities which limit both motor and mental functioning often result in the absence of these symptoms altogether (https://coganpower.com/blog/nursing-home-dehydration/). Therefore, it becomes more important that the caregivers assess these residents each and every day to ensure that they are healthy and happy. When these caregivers are in touch with their clients and understand their basic needs and standards, they become more likely to recognize these symptoms before fatalities occur.
Moreover, sexual assault within nursing homes has become a swelling epidemic. These vulnerable individuals who trust their caregivers are often taken advantage of and are left feeling helpless following the tragedy. In fact, of the individuals who suffer from these assaults over the age of 65, only 30 percent report the incident (https://coganpower.com/blog/nursing-home-sexual-assault/). Even more disheartening, 80% of the offenders are the caregivers who are expected to nurture and support these individuals (https://coganpower.com/blog/nursing-home-sexual-assault/).
Thus, in order to ensure that these conflicts never transpire and that these individuals are never made into victims, various steps must be taken. As these elder individuals reside in nursing homes, they should be examined before and after caregivers enter the room. Areas such as the pelvic region, thighs, and genitals should be examined to ensure that these individuals are never made to feel threatened or defenseless. In all cases, the caregivers should be required to pass a background check and be monitored within their first months at the facility. If possible, the caregiver should always be accompanied when he or she enters the room with the resident. These steps may save an individual from becoming a victim and feeling as though he or she is helpless.
Lastly, cameras within the resident’s room may prove to be beneficial to both the resident and the family. These cameras may not only protect victims from abuse, but from neglect and theft as well (https://coganpower.com/blog/should-illinois-require-nursing-homes-to-use-cameras/). By installing these cameras, the question of whether residents are properly cared for is eliminated and it is made certain that these residents feel comfortable and confident in this facility. The institution of these cameras will not only lessen the abuse which takes place, but it maintains the potential to nullify it altogether.
Ultimately, the uncertainty rests not in whether nursing homes have the ability to become safer, but in when they will become safer. These facilities must become spaces in which these individuals feel as though they can relax and reflect in their elder years. This time should not be spent dwelling upon the apprehension and fear that this setting brings. Thus, it is essential for these steps to be taken in order to ensure that nursing homes act as eternal sanctuaries of health and happiness. In this way, these nursing homes will provide the nourishment which allows these elder individuals to flourish into the everlasting embodiment of confidence and bliss, the nourishment that we have so desperately sought to provide them with.
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