In 2007, federal inspectors received 37,150 complaints about nursing home conditions. 39% percent were substantiated, with about one-fifth of those involving abuse and neglect. In 2008, federal investigators found that 94% of the nation’s nursing homes were in violation of federal health and safety standards. Though nursing homes are inspected annually to ensure compliance with federal standards, such inspections often fail to expose cases of abuse and neglect.
Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Warning signs of nursing home abuse range from the obvious to the insidious. Elderly residents don’t always speak out about verbal, mental or physical abuse; sometimes they are unable, sometimes they are too afraid or intimidated. Sometimes nursing home abuse isn’t discovered until it’s just too late.
Some of the signs and symptoms of nursing home abuse and neglect are obvious:
- unexplained bruises
- cuts
- burns
- broken bones
Some that are not-so-obvious include:
- weight loss
- poor personal grooming
- missing possessions
- unusual signs of loneliness and depression
Since injuries and accidents are relatively common in a nursing home environment, it is often confusing to families and friends what constitutes a “normal” accident and what merits investigation or other prompt action. It’s critical that families and friends learn to discern, as best they can, situations that may signal potential nursing home abuse.
Ask questions about falls. Watch for unsafe conditions at nursing homes while you are researching and again as a visitor. Ask questions about medications, dosages, and any medication changes. Wandering away from the nursing home is a red flag indicating neglect. Bedsores require immediate and careful attention, as do any signs of malnutrition and dehydration.
All of these factors are critical and significant to the health of seniors, and lack of attention to any of them on the part of nursing home staff should be considered a serious warning sign of nursing home neglect or physical or mental abuse.
Get Legal Help
If you believe your loved one is being subjected to nursing home abuse, it is extremely important that you visit them in the nursing home frequently. Not only does it offer your loved one encouragement and provide them with opportunities to report anything to you that may need to be communicated, it also gives you the chance to witness firsthand what the facility is like on a day-to-day basis.
Nursing home residents who have frequent, regular visitors are better protected than those who have few or no visitors. Vary your visitation schedule so your visits are unannounced and unexpected and so you can familiarize yourself with how different shifts manage patient care. Communicate with staff when you have questions or concerns. Communicate with doctors and make use of the ombudsman for your nursing home if you have ongoing questions or concerns.
If you suspect or determine that abuse or negligence is taking place, contact a nursing home abuse lawyer to determine if a nursing home abuse lawsuit may be necessary to resolve the situation. Nursing home abuse and nursing home negligence lawsuits can address such issues as direct and indirect negligence, wrongful death, intentional tort, negligent hiring and supervision, loss of consortium, abuse of the elderly, and third-party responsibility.
.webp)
.webp)