As the elderly population continues to increase, there will also be an increase in the need for more nursing home facilities. A nursing home neglect lawyer knows that more facilities will likely mean an increase in the number of nursing home abuse and neglect victims.
What Is Nursing Home Neglect?
Nursing home neglect is legally defined as negligence by the victim’s caregiver, as the caregiver shows indifference to the well-being of the victim. If the caregiver works for a nursing home where the victim is a resident, the nursing home could be held responsible for negligence because they are responsible to hire staff who are well-trained, experienced, and will adequately care for all of the residents.
Nursing home abuse is legally defined as the intentional infliction of harm by a caregiver which causes physical injury, emotional injury, pain, or disability for the residents they are responsible for. The three types of nursing home abuse are physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.
Warning Signs
There are several warning signs that families of nursing home residents should watch for that could indicate their loved one is a victim of abuse or neglect:
- Bedsores: Also referred to as pressure ulcers, bedsores are caused by too much pressure being placed on parts of the body. This often happens to residents who are bedridden and need to be moved at regular intervals. If they are being neglected by staff and are not being turned, the resident can develop bedsores that can eventually cause infections to enter the bloodstream and potentially cause the resident’s death.
- Medication Error: Some of the most common medication errors are residents receiving the wrong medication or the wrong dosage. This negligence can cause serious injury or death.
- Physical Injuries: If the resident suddenly has signs of injuries on their skin, such as bruises, bumps, cuts, and lacerations, these are signs that something is wrong. They could be from a fall because the resident is not being helped or watched, or it could be because a staff member is inflicting harm on them.
- Weight Loss: When a nursing home resident has sudden weight loss, it often indicates that they are not being provided the proper nutrition. It may also indicate the resident is suffering from dehydration, which is also another dangerous act of negligence and puts the resident’s life at risk.
Some of the more common injuries that a nursing home resident may suffer that can indicate injuries of abuse include the following:
- Spinal injuries
- Falls
- Fractures
- Concussions
- Infections
Contact a Nursing Home Lawyer for Legal Assistance
If you suspect your elderly loved one is being abused, please call an experienced attorney, like a nursing home neglect lawyer from a law firm like Davis & Brusca, LLC.
