Cases of Elderly Disrespect Can Be Ominous Indicators

As a general rule, elders are entitled to deference and respect. There are situations, however, where elderly people are disrespected by the healthcare facilities that are charged with taking care of them. In these situations, the level of disrespect that they're experiencing can be indicative of something worse going on.

Disrespect A Tellsign of Abuse

Disrespect, of course, means exactly what it implies. In some cases, people who are habitually disrespectful are also abusive. Looking for the signs of disrespect in a nursing home may indicate to you that there is other abuse going on that may merit investigation.

Belittling Seniors

One of the most frequent forms of elderly disrespect is belittling. Oftentimes, this indicates that there may be a problem with the elderly person getting the services to which they are entitled by the facility. Their complaints may be dismissed out of hand and they may not be listened to when something very serious is going on.
Their complaints may also be regarded as frivolous or exaggerated. Some of the most deadly conditions that develop in nursing homes develop quite slowly and can go a long time without being noticed. Bedsores, for instance, can cause serious illnesses and disfigurement and sometimes end up developing for a long period of time, boring their way well into the deep tissue of the body.

Ignorance Can Be Negligence

Some of the people who are the victims of disrespect in nursing home facilities are simply ignored altogether. They may not be given the assistance they need as far as hygiene goes, they may not be encouraged and helped when they want to get out of bed and get some exercise and they may go for a long time without getting food or water, in the most egregious cases.
The way that the staff at a nursing home regards the residents can show you a lot about how seriously they take them as people. In a good nursing home, the staff is professional, attentive and very well-qualified. In a nursing home that has an environment that fosters neglect, blatant disrespect for elderly people is one of the most obvious signs. If your loved one seems like they're not being treated with the dignity that they deserve, make sure you take a deeper look into what's going on at the facility where they live.