Warning Signs of Nursing Home Negligence and Elder Abuse

The elderly are often very fragile and prone to illness and injury, and they require very special attention and care. When a person becomes a nursing home resident, the nursing home at which they live becomes legally responsible for taking care of that person. Often the family of a nursing home resident is unable or untrained to care for that person at home (due to the elder’s constant medical or special need), and those family members put their trust for proper care of their loved one in the nursing home’s employees. Not only should the facility’s employees and nurses be prepared and trained to care for their residents, but the facility itself should be designed to meet all of it’s residents’ special needs.

Despite the millions of dollars given to nursing homes to ensure proper care, unacceptable numbers of older Americans are neglected or abused in their nursing home environments. Since many of these residents are fearful or hesitant to report the problems they face, it is important to recognize the signs of elder care abuse.

Nursing home abuse can be physical, emotional or mental, or even sexual. Neglect itself is a form of abuse common to nursing homes. If you believe that your loved one may be receiving improper treatment in a nursing home, check to see if any of the following signs are occurring:

-bed sores

-falls

-bruises, black eyes, or welts

-bone fractures

-cuts, open wounds, or untreated injuries

-sprains or internal injuries like internal bleeding

-broken glasses (if resident wears glasses)

-improper dosages of medication

-sudden changes in behavior

-malnutrition

-poor hygiene

This list is far from complete, but it should help you begin to determine whether your loved one should continue to reside in his or her current nursing home or, in the case of improper care, be moved to a facility committed to meeting all the needs of its residents. If you believe that a nursing home is neglecting or abusing your loved one, quickly find a new facility and contact an experienced attorney for more assistance.

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