Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

My mother and father are getting older, and they mentioned last night that they thought about looking into some type of senior living facility near Louisville. I want to help them. What kind of financial considerations should we know about?

Several issues factor into the cost of senior housing and care. Helpguide.org lists the following: Location – All types of housing, including facilities for elderly...

My elderly father recently moved into a nursing home outside Louisville. The caregivers seem attentive enough and friendly, but I’m worried that he won’t get enough to eat. He’s a very picky eater and quite obstinate; if he doesn’t like something, he will not eat. How can I make sure he doesn’t starve to death?

There are a number of steps you can take: Eat meals with him whenever you can. Most nursing homes allow visitors to buy meals in...

My father in Louisville died within a week after undergoing a heart-valve operation. He did not die of heart problems, but of an infection. During an autopsy, the medical examiner discovered a surgical sponge in my father’s chest cavity! I want to get justice. Where do I start?

I’m sorry for your loss—particularly one that appears to have been unnecessary. Gather all of your father’s relevant medical records, especially the ones pertaining to...

My parents in Louisville are in their early 80s. They live in the same house I grew up in, and I know they want to stay there, but I’ve been seeing signs that they need more help than I can provide. Short of finding them a room in a nursing home, what options are available?

Unless they are in very poor health and neither is able to provide the care that the other needs, you may be able to hire...

I’m just starting to take care of my father’s financial affairs, including paying his bills and reconciling all of his bank accounts, and I’ve been seeing things on his bank statements that just don’t make any sense. How can I tell if he is being financially exploited in his Kentucky nursing home?

Keep a close eye on his bank accounts. Don’t leave an ATM card, bank statements, or any other financial paperwork at the nursing home. If...

My father is in a nursing home. One of his caretakers seems overly harsh to him whenever we visit, but my father always defends the caretaker’s actions. Could this be elder abuse?

Yes. Many forms of elder abuse in nursing homes in Kentucky do not involve physical contact but can still be extremely damaging to the resident. Victims...