Recognizing Nursing Home Neglect
Neglect is the most prevalent type of nursing home abuse in the United States. Unlike physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse of incapacitated adults, which require a caretaker to actively harm a victim, neglect occurs when an individual simply does not receive the care he or she needs. In a crowded nursing home where caretakers are assigned to multiple residents, it can be easy for an individual’s needs to be overlooked.
Nursing home neglect can lead to serious complications for an individual. When one does not receive the medication, feeding, cleaning, or even social interaction he or she needs on a regular basis, a caretaker might not notice an injury or worsening condition. With medication, failure to take the required dosage can result in serious illness or death. Nursing home neglect is a form of malpractice – in a nursing home setting, staff members are paid to care for adults who can not care for themselves. If your loved one is not receiving the care he or she needs in his or her nursing home, consider taking legal action on his or her behalf through a nursing home malpractice claim.
Know How to Recognize Neglect
Neglect does not come with the tell-tale signs of other types of abuse, like bruises or a suddenly-empty checking account. If you suspect your loved one is suffering from neglect, you need to be more vigilant and look for less-obvious signs.
Has your loved one’s medical condition become worse or, if he or she was undergoing treatment for an illness or condition, not making any progress? This could be a sign that he or she is not receiving his or her medication or treatments.
Has your loved one lost a significant amount of weight? Talk to him or her about his or her eating – he or she might not be receiving every meal or might not be receiving adequate meals.
Is your loved one dirty? Does he or she have bed sores? It is a caretaker’s job to bathe their residents and be sure that they move enough to avoid bed sores. Look for other signs of insufficient cleaning – is your loved one’s room, his or her clothing, or his or her bedding dirty?
Does your loved one appear to be having cognitive trouble? Although many individuals experience dementia as they age, it is important that you take note of any sudden changes in his or her cognition, his or her emotional state, or any other change in health status. These can be signs that he or she is not receiving the care he or she needs from nursing home staff.
Nursing Home Neglect and Malpractice Attorneys in Winter Park
If your loved one currently resides in a nursing home and you feel he or she has been neglected by the caretakers there, you need to be an advocate for him or her and get your loved one the legal help he or she needs. Nursing home neglect is a form of malpractice and can lead to injuries and worsened health for victims. To learn more about reporting neglect and pursuing a claim against your loved one’s nursing home, contact our team of Orlando malpractice attorneys at Hornsby Law Group to schedule your initial legal consultation with us.
