Know The Signs Of Nursing Home Neglect
Caring for an aging loved one can be challenging. Many people turn to nursing homes for help providing the day-to-day care that an elderly loved one needs. Nursing homes can be valuable allies when it comes to ensuring the health and safety of your loved one, but these facilities can also be a place where neglect takes place.
It's important that you are able to recognize the signs of neglect in a nursing home so that you can take legal action to protect your loved one against mental and physical harm.
Bedsores
If your loved one has bedsores, it is likely that the staff at his or her nursing home are neglectful. Bedsores are painful bruises or welts that are caused by lying in the same position for extended periods of time.
Elderly individuals can spend a significant amount of time in bed. Nursing home staff members should be changing linens regularly and ensuring that their residents receive the help needed to change positions often. Failure to engage in these simple tasks is neglect, and you can take legal action on behalf of your loved one.
Malnutrition
Another serious sign of neglect in a nursing home is malnutrition. It is true that many elderly individual experience a significant reduction in their appetite levels. Despite a disappearing desire to eat, your loved one still needs to receive adequate nutrition to maintain proper health.
It is the responsibility of the nursing home staff to ensure that your loved one is eating enough. Malnutrition indicates that your loved one's caloric and nutrient intakes are not being monitored, and this is considered neglect.
Frequent Injuries
The occasional accident is bound to happen in a nursing home. A patient will experience a fall or bump into a nightstand while trying to get out of bed. Any injuries that your loved one suffers should be explained by nursing home staff. If you are unable to obtain a full reporting of how your loved one received a cut or bruise, this is cause for concern.
Frequent injuries can be a sign that nursing home staff members are neglecting to watch over your loved one effectively. This type of neglect creates an environment where serious trauma may occur.
An experienced personal injury lawyer, such as from Hodge Law Firm, will be able to help you determine if the nursing home where your loved one is housed is engaging in neglect. Learn the signs of neglect so that you can seek help on your loved one's behalf.