Stop Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Before It Starts

By Debra D. Savage

In Stop Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Before It Starts, Debra Savage speaks not only to caregivers and receivers, but also to the families, spouses, and children of nursing home patients. She addresses the growing phenomenon of abuse and neglect in nursing homes across the United Statesand what families can do to prevent it.

Savages mission is to help others become informed family advocatesto help prevent our loved ones and family members from becoming victims of abuse or neglect, while others turn their backs and do or say nothing. She aims to help other families who have loved ones in nursing homes or those who are considering placing their family members in nursing homes by providing consumers with accurate and detailed information, along with resources, should a loved one or someone they know become a victim of nursing home neglect or abuse.

This no-nonsense guide provides vital information that will assist families in making the toughest decision of their lives, while providing the steps to take to insure that their time in the nursing home is positive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781450281218

Debra D. Savage

DEBRA D. SAVAGE, author of Caregivers and the “Baby Boomer” Generation, currently lives in Memphis, Tennessee. She is an Empowerment speaker, radio personality, and licensed evangelist in the Church of God in Christ. She conducts caregiver seminars and workshops, ministers to women’s groups and conferences, and speaks in prisons, nursing homes, and long term facilities.

Book preview

ENDORSEMENTS

Debra Savage is a remarkable woman, moving beyond personal gain to turn her significant life burdens into actionable knowledge to benefit others. Debra’s passion for ensuring respectful and equitable treatment for all is as contagious as it is inspirational.

Paula Jacobs, MA/Counseling Psychology

Director, Quality and Performance Improvement

Methodist North Hospital

Memphis Business Journal 2009 Healthcare Hero, Non-provider

Debra’s book is a must-read for anyone considering putting their loved one in a nursing home. It is filled with vital information that is necessary to know when trying to select a facility that is suitable, with well qualified staff, and that is adequate to provide the care that is needed. It is unfortunate that Debra’s dear mother experienced the neglect and abuse that she did in the facility that was charged with her care.

I highly recommend this well written, heartfelt book. Thank you for opening our eyes to this problem, which has gone way too long without being exposed.

Andrea L. Dudley

CEO/Founder Habakkuk Publishing

www.Globalempact.org/habakkuk_publishing

Stop Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Before It Starts touches my heart in a very special way. My mom lived in a nursing home for 12 years of her life and died there last year. I remember spending so much time praying that my mother would be okay while I wasn’t there. She, like all other nursing home residents, was at the mercy of the staff. I cried on my way to the nursing home, while I was there, and on the way home. This book is definitely a great guide for those who have loved ones in a nursing home. Stop Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Before It Starts instructs and empowers caregivers to be proactive. You will learn what signs to look for and learn how to handle them should they occur.

Stop Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Before It Starts is certain to become a best seller in this current age where people live longer, are unable to take care of themselves, and require the residency of a nursing home in a day and age where nursing homes staff don’t really care about those who are so vulnerable. This book has encouraged me so much. I only wish I had it when my mom was required to go into a nursing home. My eternal thanks to Debra for the many that will be helped through her book.

Diane Anderson, BS HCM

Patient Advocate

Methodist Healthcare

In my 33 years as a Baptist pastor and my 8 years as a board-certified chaplain, I have never run across a reading with such an inside perspective on assisted living. In this sequel to Caregivers and The Baby-Boomer Generation, Debra Savage spares no pain in telling of her experience, which is likely to be common to most who use assisted living facilities, especially nursing homes. Debra Savage’s personal experience certainly speaks to the creativity and originality of this project. I am recommending this book to all of my chaplain and clergy peers. It is a must-read for any family advocate. Grace and Peace,

Christopher P. Bounds, MDiv; BCC

Chaplain Manager, Spiritual Care, Methodist North Hospital

Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare

Stop Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Before It Starts

Debra D. Savage

iUniverse, Inc.

Bloomington

Stop Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Before It Starts

Copyright © 2011 Debra D. Savage

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

iUniverse books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

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www.iuniverse.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4502-8120-1 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-4502-8122-5 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-1-4502-8121-8 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number 2010919364

Printed in the United States of America

iUniverse rev. date: 1/7/2011

Medical Advice

The information, ideas, and suggestions in this book are not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Before following any suggestions contained in this book, you should consult your personal physician. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising as a consequence of your use or application of any information or suggestions in this book.

Legal Advice

The information, ideas, and suggestions in this book are not intended to render legal advice. Before following any suggestions contained in this book, you should consult your personal attorney. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising as a consequence of your use or application of any information or suggestions in this book.

Contents

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

EPILOGUE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DEDICATION

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee (Exodus 20:12).

I would like to dedicate this book in honor and in memory of my mother, Mattie B. Lloyd. My mother suffered many levels of abuse & neglect, physically, emotionally & mentally, while entrusted in the care of nursing homes. It is because of the pain, trauma, and suffering she was subjected to that I dedicate this book in her honor. She went on to be with the Lord in the early hours of the morning on September 22, 2009. I realize that there are other families across this country who are suffering the same or similar situations. It is my intent that this book will serve as a primer