When we entrust ourselves or an elderly relative into care, we expect to receive an extremely high standard of care and compassion – but what happens if that’s not the case? In this article, we’re offering advice on what to do when unhappy with your care.
Elder abuse solicitors in Ireland will hear horror stories about the mistreatment of senior citizens in care homes. In fact, the prevalence of elder abuse and neglect in the last 12 months stands at around 2.2%.
It can be extremely distressing to discover that yourself or a loved one isn’t receiving the care that they deserve. In this article, we’re sharing advice on what to do when unhappy with your care.
What is elder abuse and neglect?
When entering into a care situation, you should expect that all action will be taken to ensure your wellbeing. When this doesn’t happen, it can be the result of abuse or neglect which can include:
- Physical abuse: hitting or treating a resident roughly to the point of causing physical pain or discomfort.
- Withholding: behaviour such as withholding medication, treatment, food, or water which may cause the resident distress. This can include failing to secure services such as dental treatment for the individual.
- Cruelty: making nasty remarks and treating the resident without compassion.
- Hygiene: failing to wash the resident or their bedding, resulting in discomfort.
- Theft: a caregiver steals cash or personal property from a resident or prevents other residents from doing so.
All of these things can be considered a breach of the agreement between care home and resident, as can other things such as the serving of substandard meals.
What to do when unhappy with your care
UK caregivers are bound by a number of legal obligations and, if you feel that your care – or that of a loved one – is or has been substandard, there are a few courses of action available to you. We’ll explore some of these in this section:
For the record
If abuse or neglect is taking place in a care environment try, where possible, to make detailed notes, including the form of abuse, the name of the individual, and the date and time. If there is physical evidence such as an injury or inadequate/substandard meals, it’s also a good idea to take photographs if you can. These notes and images can be invaluable should it prove necessary to escalate the matter at a later date.
Speak to a superior
In the first instance, you may want to speak to a senior member of staff at the care home or agency in order to voice your concerns and to request that appropriate action be taken to resolve the issue.
Get your family involved
Dealing with abuse or neglect can be extremely isolating and so it’s important to have support. Make trusted friends or family members aware of the situation and ask them to attend meetings with the caregiver with you. This is important as, the more people involved, the less likely it is that the care home or agency will try to sweep the issue under the carpet.
Make your move
If the caregiver is unable or unwilling to resolve the issue, you may feel that you wish to be removed from the environment. This can sometimes be complicated due to geography or a lack of a suitable alternative.
If leaving a harmful or dangerous environment proves to be difficult, you and your family should always seek the advice of a reputable elder abuse solicitor who will be able to advise you of your rights and help you to reach a suitable solution.
The law is on your side
If other methods have failed to resolve the issue with the caregiver, you and your family may need to think about taking legal action. In the UK, care homes are required to abide by consumer law, and actions such as abuse or neglect are considered to be in breach of this law.
If your caregiver has breached this law, you may be able to bring a consumer protection case against them, and may be entitled to financial compensation which will help you to relocate to a safer environment. In the first instance, you should contact a reputable elder abuse solicitor who will be able to guide you through the process of bringing those responsible to justice and gaining compensation. In extreme cases, your solicitor may also recommend criminal action against the caregiver.
Putting a stop to elder abuse
Often, older people feel like they ‘don’t want to make a fuss’ when something is not right – which can allow abuse or neglect to thrive. Abuse or neglect of the elderly can be extremely distressing and can affect the individual’s physical and mental health and, as such, it should never be ignored.
Caregivers in the UK, including individuals, homes, and agencies, have a duty toward those in their care and, when this duty is not fulfilled adequately, action must be taken.
As mentioned in this article, always keep detailed records of any neglect or abuse and be sure to let your family and/or friends know what’s going on. This way, they can support you in holding the caregiver accountable for their actions, and prevent them from going on to abuse other elderly people.
Images:
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
