Homecare Abuse vs. Nursing Home Abuse

Some people are fortunate enough to be able to afford home health care in their senior years. These services can be wonderful. They allow a senior citizen to continue living in their own home and to enjoy the independence that comes with it. It's also much more comfortable than being in a facility that is really more of a hospital setting than anything else. Things can go wrong, however, and there are some particular dangers unique to homecare that you should be aware of.

Unqualified Workers

Homecare providers are obligated to uphold the same levels of quality and competence in the delivery of care as our nursing homes. The difference is that nursing homes are permanent facilities and that it's easy for state regulators to walk in for inspections. It's much harder to keep an eye on homecare workers. If it seems like the worker you hired or your family hired for you isn't qualified, make sure you tell the agency. Sometimes, the worker is completely qualified but there is a personality conflict that makes it impossible for the patient and the worker to get along.

No Supervision

Even though most homecare agencies are very professional and good at what they do, some of them have abusers on staff. One of the biggest risks of home care is the fact that abusers can sometimes get themselves into a situation where they have free access to a victim and where the victim has no means of retaliating against the abuser or reporting the abuse to anyone else. If you have a loved one who gets homecare services, keep a close eye on them. If they seem nervous around the homecare provider or if they complain about the treatment that they are receiving, talk to the agency immediately. Again, it's usually easier to see when someone is being abusive in a nursing home setting where other employees and supervisors can keep an eye on them.
Homecare is a great option, but you have to make certain that it's being delivered with competence, compassion and professionalism. If you've been the victim of a home care agency that has been neglectful or abusive toward one of your loved ones or if you have been abused yourself, contact a lawyer for nursing home abuse. They handle neglect in nursing homes, but they can also handle cases where you're going after a homecare agency for elder abuse.