When Home Health Care Workers Do More Harm than Good

When we hear the TV announcer say: “It’s 10 p.m., Do You Know Where Your Children Are?” we have to admit – in that moment – we stop and think about whether our children are safe.

An equally important question is: Do we take that “gut check” moment about our elderly relatives? These are the people that loved us and raised us — our parents and grandparents. If they are being cared for by home health aides, we all may want to pay a bit closer attention to the type of care they are receiving – not just at bedtime, but all the time.

Caregiving is a tough job. That’s for certain. If you have an elderly parent or relative you can’t care for 24/7, it’s understandable that you hired a professional to provide care for them and to be there when you can’t. It is critically important, however, to monitor that care, to make sure they are meeting your family member’s needs. Unfortunately, many home health aides and the agencies that employ them often provide little or training. These workers are sometimes just not qualified and prepared to do the job.

When your family members are in the care of a home health aide, trust but verify. Signs of elder abuse are not always obvious to the naked eye. In addition to physical abuse, emotional abuse and financial abuse happen more often than we all like to believe.

When you visit your elderly mom, dad or loved one, look for these signs that home health aides aren’t doing their job that right way:

• Your loved one has lost weight, appears malnourished or dehydrated. They may even be complaining of be hungry or thirsty a lot.
• Signs of physical issues such as bedsores, unexplained bruises, cuts or complaints of pain.
• The room is filthy, the bedding is soiled, and clothing is unchanged and dirty.
• Your loved one smells (urine or bowel) or it is apparent is not being bathed.
• Your loved one tells you they are frequently left alone without the home health aide checking on them for a long time.

Sugarman Law just filed a Complaint in Middlesex County Superior Court against Preferred Home Health Care and Nursing Services claiming this agency’s home health aide’s poor care caused a woman’s pressure ulcers and wrongful death.

If you believe your loved one is being neglected and abused by a home healthcare worker, speak up immediately. Talk to the company or their supervisor and contact Barry Sugarman, a seasoned elder neglect and nursing home abuse lawyer, for assistance with your case. Mr. Sugarman will hold the parties responsible for the abuse accountable for their actions.