Dementia is a debilitating disease that can cause great harm to those who suffer from it in New Mexico and around the country. Unfortunately, dementia patients often get neglected by their nursing home caregivers, which can lead to serious complications. If someone you know has been a victim of dementia or nursing home neglect, there are steps that you can take to protect their rights.
Dementia and Nursing Home Neglect
Dementia is a progressive disease that causes brain cells to die, resulting in memory loss and other changes. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, but there are many others. Dementia patients require special care because their condition makes it more difficult for them to communicate their needs or understand what is happening around them. Nursing home caregivers are responsible for providing this care, but in many instances, they fail to do so.
Common Ways These Patients Get Neglected
One of the most common ways that nursing homes neglect dementia patients is by failing to provide them with the necessary care and supervision. This can include things like not assisting them with basic activities of daily living, not monitoring their medications, and not ensuring that they’re eating properly. Nursing home staff may also ignore signs of physical or emotional abuse or fail to report it when it does occur.
What You Can Do if You Suspect Neglect
If you have a loved one who is living in a nursing home and you believe they are being neglected, there are steps that you can take to protect them. The first step is to talk to the staff at the nursing home and express your concerns. If they don’t listen to or address the nursing home neglect issue, you can file a complaint with a relevant agency in New Mexico, such as the New Mexico Adult Protective Services or the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department.
If a loved one has been neglected or abused in a nursing home, you should act quickly to protect their rights. Remember that delaying to do so can result in further harm to the patient and make it more difficult to prosecute the responsible party.
