Most nursing home facilities provide attentive, professional and loving care to their patients. Unfortunately, overworked, undertrained and underpaid nursing home staff at profit-driven facilities can sometimes neglect those trusted to their care. Even more concerning is when neglect transitions to abuse.
Close friends and family members of nursing home patients should vigilantly watch for the signs of nursing home neglect and abuse. Patients may not speak out for fear of retaliation or not wanting to burden family and friends. Sadly, some patients may be physically or mentally unable to communicate a problem.
Common Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect occurs when a patient is denied any basic necessity such as food, clothing, shelter, medication, etc. Neglect can take many forms, including the following:
- Injuries from falls can be magnified when nursing home staff fail to properly observe patients and leave them on the floor for extended periods of time
- Bed strangulation and suffocation can result from mattresses poorly fitted to the bed frame
- Bedsores can range from mild to deadly and are caused by unrelieved pressure over hours and sometimes days
- Lack of a hydration schedule in mentally impaired patients can result in life-threatening dehydration
- Lack of proper nutrition can damage a patient's immune system and bone structure
- Medication errors can cause side effects and serious injuries or wrongful death
When Neglect Becomes Abuse
All forms of neglect can lead to serious and life threatening consequences. More sinister is intentional abuse by nursing home staff. Family and friends should immediately report signs of physical, emotional, financial or sexual abuse, including the following:
- Sudden changes in behavior such as anxiety, depression or withdrawal
- Unexplained cuts, bruises, sprains, welts, burns, fractures, etc.
- Unexplained venereal diseases or bloody undergarments
- Staff refusing visitors to see a patient or unexplained delays
- Staff not allowing visitors to be alone with a patient
- Overmedication
- Loss of patient's possessions or sudden changes in bank accounts
A state health department and law enforcement should be contacted if suspicions of abuse are substantiated. Nursing homes may be held liable for the acts of their employees.
If you or a loved one has suffered nursing home abuse, contact an experienced nursing home injury attorney to discuss your situation and your options.
