Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

While some cases of nursing home abuse can be easily detected, many times is it difficult to tell whether abuse or neglect has occurred. If an elderly loved one is a nursing home resident, there are several signs you can look for to determine if possible abuse or neglect is taking place. Some signs include:

• Unusual behavior. If your loved one is suffering from a bout of depression or otherwise acting unusually, it may be a sign that they are suffering from abuse or neglect. They may be uncomfortable telling someone about the neglect, or they may be unaware that the treatment they are receiving is violating the law.
• Bed sores. These skin injuries are a sign of neglect that occurs when a person is left to lie in the same position for an extended period of time. This puts stress on the same areas of the body for hours and days on end, causing bed sores. This is a telltale sign that your elderly loved one is not receiving proper attention.
• Broken bones or bruises. Injuries suffered while in a nursing home are another common sign of abuse or neglect. This could be caused by failure to monitor an elderly patient, which results in a fall. It can also be caused by violence direct toward the patient. If your elderly loved one has bruises or broken bones suffered while at a nursing home, you should take action to determine if abuse or neglect has occurred.

Causes of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

There are several different reasons that nursing home abuse and neglect occur. Nursing homes are often understaffed and unable to properly care for all of their patients. The staff may also be unqualified to provide adequate care to patients. Finally, failure to administer medications or other treatments to patients in the proper manner can result in serious harm.

If you suspect that an elderly loved one has been neglected or abused while in a nursing home, contact an attorney with experience in handling these types of cases. Nursing homes must comply with certain laws and regulations to keep patients safe, and if your loved one has suffered harm, an attorney can help determine if these laws were properly followed.