5 Things to do When Visiting Loved Ones in Nursing Homes

Visiting Your Loved on in a New Mexico Nursing Home

Visiting loved ones in nursing homes can be emotional. While you may prioritize spending precious time with them, there are other things to do to ensure your loved one isn’t suffering from nursing home abuse or neglect.

When you trust a long-term care facility to take care of your loved one, nursing home abuse or neglect might be the last thing on your mind, but to ensure they are safe, here are five things you can do while visiting.

In The Article

Look for Signs of Abuse or Neglect

Knowing your family member or friend in a nursing home can make it easier to spot signs of abuse or neglect. Some things to look for during a visit:

• Whether or not your loved one has lost weight
• Cleanliness of the facilities
• Injuries on your loved one
• Infections or illness (especially if chronic or recurring)
• A change in your loved one’s personality
• Unexplained bruising

Ask Loved Ones Questions About Residents and Staff

If there are no clear signs of abuse and neglect, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not happening. Ask the resident you’re visiting and other residents (if possible). Here are questions you can ask to understand how the facility is run.

Do You Enjoy Being Here?

Asking this question of your loved one and other residents can show whether they are comfortable with their current living conditions and may prompt disclosure of issues they’ve experienced.

Are there any issues with the staff?

Residents may reveal abuse they witnessed or experienced when asked directly about staff issues.

Ask Staff About Issues with Residents or Your Loved One

Asking staff questions can reveal how residents are treated and whether staffing problems exist.

Do You Enjoy Your Job?

A staff member’s attitude toward their job can indicate how engaged they are with residents. Overworked or unhappy staff may reflect broader problems at the facility.

What is the resident’s schedule like?

If staff know the resident’s schedule in detail, they are likely engaged with the resident’s care. If they do not, it may indicate staffing or organizational issues.

Are there any issues among residents or between residents and staff?

Even if staff answer “no,” later evidence of abuse could make that answer relevant. Ask follow-up questions and observe interactions.

Check for Missing Items in the Room

Missing items could indicate theft or financial exploitation. Catalog items in the room and check them on subsequent visits. If something is missing, ask the resident about it and file a written report with the facility if necessary.

Talk About Policy Changes with Staff

Discuss policy changes with staff to understand how the facility is managed. Changes may indicate staffing shortages or shifts in how residents are monitored.

What to do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse in New Mexico

If you suspect nursing home abuse in New Mexico, report it immediately and collect as much evidence as possible. Contact a nursing home abuse lawyer to help protect the rights of the victim.