When we have to choose a nursing home for a loved one, we try to make sure it is a good place; a place to care for them and treat them with dignity and respect. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen.

Too often we assume that when we need to place a senior in a nursing home that the home’s staff and management will take care of them the way we would. You would treat your beloved elder with love and respect, dignity and empathy, and would never dream of withholding medications; isolating your loved one; shoving them around; leaving them unattended in their own waste; or trying to steal their money.

The facts show that currently over one and a half million seniors are placed in nursing homes for care. While this number may seem high to you, it is expected to triple within 30 years. This is largely due to the baby boomer generation coming of age; of age to require nursing home care. Shockingly, one in three nursing homes in the US have been cited for neglect or abuse despite the fact that the Nursing Home Reform Act (1987) says nursing home residents have the "right" to live somewhere that maintains or improves their physical and mental welfare.

The idea behind nursing homes is that they provide professional care to those who are having trouble caring for themselves. While that might be the theory, it appears that the reality is somewhat different and nursing home abuse is on the increase. We know this because of the latest cases going to court and articles in the newspapers and on TV. It’s not the ugly secret it once used to be, but it is still hidden from prying eyes when and where possible, and nursing home abuse is still ugly.

If you’re suspicious that something isn’t right at your loved one’s nursing home, start watching closely. If they are the victims of emotional, physical and psychological abuse, you will begin to see things such as radical mood swings, significant changes in behavior, unexplained burns, cuts, scrapes, lacerations, broken bones, and bruising in odd places.

If you notice other residents of the home with bed sores, suffering from bad hygiene, and the home in general is unclean, there are bound to be other signs of neglect if you look for them. If you have any doubts about what is going on and fear for the safety of your relative, speak to a dedicated Sacramento personal injury attorney with experience in this area.

You may notice that the home is short-staffed, which in turn jeopardizes your loved one’s health and safety. Sadly, this seems to be a common occurrence – running short each shift – because it saves money. You need to know, however, that nursing homes are ordered by the state and federal governments to live up to certain requirements, one of which is having an adequate number of staff present to care for the residents.

Just because someone lives in a nursing home does not mean they have surrendered their rights. Negligence and abuse is illegal and if your loved one is a victim of these insidious crimes, they may well be entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering. This is yet another reason to contact a skilled Sacramento personal injury attorney. Your attorney will outline the differences between neglect (failing to care for someone that prevents pain and harm) and abuse (inflicting intentional pain or harm).