Is your senior loved one being abused or neglected?
Leaving your senior loved one in the care of a nursing home is a tremendously difficult decision to make. You may always have questions about the quality of care he or she is receiving and that is not necessarily a bad thing. Having someone who will check up on them and the quality of care they are receiving is probably the best thing for a nursing home resident.
You should always be on the lookout for telltale signs of abuse and neglect such as whether your loved one was properly bathed, any unexplained bruising, etc. If you have questions or suspicions, our lawyers can help you begin taking action to protect your senior loved one.
Recognizing the signs
Some of the issues that could threaten the health and well-being of your loved one include:
Bedsores (decubitus ulcers) — These result from staff failing to turn bedridden seniors often enough and can be a sign of general neglect.
Falls — Falls often happen when frail residents are left unmonitored for too long. He or she may have needed to use the restroom and was not aided or may have needed to be restrained and was not.
Dehydration/malnutrition — As people need water and food every day, any failings in this aspect of care will impact a nursing home resident quickly. Any sustained deprivation can have devastating effects on health.
Medication errors — Nursing home residents are often on many medications that have very specific requirements such as being taken with food or on an empty stomach. Any medication error could create a grave situation.