Gerontology is the study of aging. People who work in that field of study are interested in what life is like for aging adults. Growing older means dealing with health issues and seeking care that may seem burdensome to our loved ones. Thankfully, nursing homes were created to house our elders. These spaces are meant […]
For family members who are trying to look for signs of nursing home neglect, it’s important to remember that it can in some cases be mistaken for the natural aging process. Below are a few signs and symptoms that illustrate how this can happen. 1. Weight loss. An elderly person will often lose weight as […]
We have previously written about the dangers that some elderly Americans face in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Too often, nursing home residents face physical, psychological and even sexual abuse by a staff member or by other residents. And if the victim has dementia or other cognitive difficulties, the abuse often goes unreported. […]
We have previously written about how difficult it can be to put an aging relative in a nursing home. There are feelings of guilt, of course, but there is also worry. Will my loved one receive good care and attention? Will they enjoy living here or hate it? Are there any alternative options? Unfortunately, nursing […]
Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s every year, many Pennsylvania families take the time they do not regularly have to visit elderly loved ones living in nursing homes and care centers. Such visits are the highlight of residents’ holiday season and after everyone says their goodbyes, seniors gather round to share all of the news and […]
Nursing home facilities provide an essential service for the elderly population, and a service that, according to some predictions, around half of Americans age 65 and older will make use of at some point in their lives. Because most people have to deal with skilled nursing home care at some point, either for a loved […]
There is a troubling problem that is occurring across Pennsylvania nursing homes that is rarely discussed and that needs to be acknowledged and addressed — that of falls and the use of restraints to prevent them. Nursing home residents who suffer a fall often times sustain serious injuries that could result in a permanent disability, […]
If a person suspects that someone they know has been a victim of or is currently experiencing ongoing elder abuse, that person can report the suspected abuse to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. Any person who reports alleged abuse being perpetrated on an elderly person will be asked to provide their name and contact information […]
Data from the 2010 Census determined that people 65 and older comprise 13 percent of the total population of the United States; the figure for Pennsylvania is about the same. This group of people born between 1946 and 1964 long ago became known as the “baby boom generation.” This population’s steady aging means that increasing […]
Fire is a disaster in a nursing home or long-term care facility, where many residents are too frail or disabled to escape on their own. As a spokesperson for the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care told the New York Times for a recent report, many residents aren’t even able to get out of […]