|
Nursing home residents have a right to be treated with dignity and respect. They have a right to receive the necessary care, treatment, and services that enable them to maintain or increase their quality of life. However, these rights are often violated by the nursing homes.
Nursing home abuse is a serious problem, and with an increasing elderly population entering nursing homes, the potential for neglect grows as homes are frequently understaffed and don’t provide the level of care residents require.
At McHugh Fuller, we have the knowledge and the experience in nursing home abuse litigation to successfully fight for your loved one’s rights. For almost 20 years, we have been holding nursing home companies accountable for the health and safety of their residents when they have put profits above quality care.
If you have seen or experienced any of these common signs of abuse—dehydration, significant weight loss, bedsores, or broken bones and other unexplained injuries—call our office immediately to set up an appointment with one of our highly-qualified attorneys. Let us help you get the justice your loved one deserves.
Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
- Dehydration. Dehydration is one of the most common and potentially life-threatening conditions at a nursing home. When the body does not receive an adequate amount of water, this is an obvious symptom of abuse or neglect in nursing homes. Symptoms include dry, cracked lips and skin.
- Broken bones or unexplained injuries. You place your trust in a care provider to look after your loved ones, so broken bones or other unexplained injuries are addition key signs that someone has been abused or neglected.
- Weight loss. Sudden, drastic weight loss is another sign that your loved ones are not being cared for properly.
- Bed sores. Also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers, bedsores are caused by prolonged pressure or rubbing on vulnerable areas of the body. These types of injuries are not normal and can be prevented. Bedsores often occur when a person has not been properly turned, cared for or given enough water, and are a key sign that someone has been abused or neglected.
- Behavioral changes. Has your loved one become unusually upset or agitated, extremely withdrawn, or non-communicative? Does he or she act differently when a particular staff member is around? Has an unusual behavior, such as rocking in bed or thumb-sucking developed? If so, you may be witnessing the effects of emotional and/or physical abuse. Sometimes residents won’t tell you what is happening to them for fear of retaliation by facility staff, so it is important to pay attention to how your loved one responds to the nursing home environment.
- Unsanitary conditions. You expect your loved one to reside in a clean, healthy environment. If you discover that your loved one has been lying in his or her waste, this is a sign of neglect. It may not be obvious, so discrete examination of undergarments and skin to see if they are soiled may be necessary.
- Malnutrition. Malnutrition is more than just not getting enough to eat. It also can mean not getting enough vitamins and minerals in food or not being able to process food after eating. The nursing home should make sure your loved one is being properly fed, and are expected to help assist those who cannot feed themselves.
Click here to view our commercials.
|