• Dehydrated, malnourished.

• Bedsores.

• Unexplained infections.

• Stained underwear.

• Sudden behavior changes.

• Staff refusing visitors to see resident or delaying visits.

• Over-medicating.

• Strong odors.

• Loss of possessions.

• Sudden change in banking activities of financial documents.

• Fear, depression, withdrawal.

• Disorientation.

• Unjustified isolation or restraint.

• Demeaning comments by staff.

HOW TO SUPPORT A RESIDENT

• Explore care alternatives.

• Visit often.

• Build relationships with staff.

• Monitor care. Be an advocate.

• Provide emotional support.

HOW TO PICK THE BEST

One in five nursing homes in Wisconsin were cited in 2006 for harming or endangering elderly residents.

How can you find the safest possible option? Government records of problems at long-term care facilities and misconduct by caregivers are available online, but they are not easy to find.

You need to click through as many as nine sometimes hard-to-spot links in order to get from the state Department of Health and Family Services main page to lists of violations.

For quick links to some of the most useful government reports, go to www.madison.com/wsj.

WHO TO CONTACT

• In an emergency: 911.

• If abuse occurs in a state-licensed facility, the state Division of Quality Assurance: 608-266-8481.

• To learn more about elder advocacy in long-term care, National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform: 202-332-2275.

SOURCES: National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home reform; Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services; State Board of Aging and Long-Term Care.