How many of you agree that our elderly get mistreated in nursing homes?

I didn't think about it until I had actually experienced first-hand, but the elderly are most certainly mistreated in nursing homes:

In my freshman year of high school, our English teacher asked us to do a community service project with either the elderly, special needs or other worthy cause. We were to pick a specific location and work for 6 hours. I chose the elderly in a nursing home close to my house.

When I went there, the place was very quiet, and not lively at all. It was almost creepy. Then, when we went to help the elderly, the staff asked my friend and I to assist the elderly during their meal by coaxing them to eat, opening things, and sometimes even feed them. However, the more self-sufficient adults were in one area, while the severely handicapped were on the other side of the room. One particular nurse was FORCING and SHOVING food into an elderly lady's mouth. The lady could not get up; she had to be reclined and could barely open her eyes, let alone her mouth. The nurse kept pushing and shoving food into the lady's mouth, and food started to drip down.

After I saw this horrible act, I have vowed to never, ever send my parents to a nursing home of any kind. I'll stay home and take care of them myself.

i don't know i've never been to a nursing home......

I agree fully and its disgusting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was happening to my grand-pops so we took him out and came and stayed by us ( we hired a full time nurse )

I do agree it happens, if you have a loved one in a home, go see them at least once a week and look over them to see that they are clean, well fed, and most importantly, happy. Also, look for red marks, bruises, handprints, and if your loved one seems withdrawn or depressed, they may be sexually abused. If you see anything suspicious, contact the authorities immediately. I would not stand for anyone's granny or gramps getting mistreated!

I do agree. It is not intential most of the time. Unfortunately there is such a big turnover in most homes that little things by new aids get over looked and in most stats the small things are abuse. Dignity isues are high on the list of abuse. Physical abuse still happens, however not as frequent as in the past, with cams in alot of the homes and rooms, that has been vut back. Abuse is also turning off the TV when the resident did not ask for it, or changing the channel.

Unfortunatly, it does happen, but not as often as the media or lawyers would have us think. The reality is understaffing. There is just not enough people who really care about nursing home residents for the amount of pay they recieve and no benefits.