Approximately two million Americans live in nursing homes and long-term
care facilities. Unfortunately, elderly residents are at risk of being
abused and neglected.
Elder abuse is defined as negligent or intentional acts performed by a
caregiver or other trusted person which causes harm to a vulnerable elderly
individual. The signs of elder abuse are identifiable, and knowing such
signs is critical to stopping the problem and recovering compensation
through a personal injury claim.
The following are the most common signs of nursing home negligence:
-
Malnutrition – Although elders experience a considerable decline in appetite
the older they get, nursing home staff are required to ensure that their
patients are eating enough to stay healthy and properly hydrated. If you
hear complaints from your loved one about being constantly hungry or thirsty,
perhaps nursing home neglect might be happening.
-
Bedsores – Elders who require assistance moving around require changing in
position on their beds, ensuring that they are not lying in the same position
for long hours at a time. When nursing home staff ignore this mandatory
duty, residents can form painful bruises and welts on their bodies, which
are commonly known as bedsores. Since bedsores are relatively preventable,
discovering any on your loved one’s body is often an obvious indicator
that other forms of mistreatment might be occurring as well.
-
Unexplained injuries – Elders who suffer occasional bruises and cuts are often caused
by accident, such as stumbling out of bed or bumping into an object. However,
if there are wounds that are not or will not be explained by staff members,
you may want to check for other signs of potential abuse or negligence.
-
Fear or depression – At no matter what age, a healthy person is a happy person. If your
loved one is showing signs of constant fear or unusual depression, they
could be suffering from either physical abuse or malnourishment.
-
Wrongful death – While nursing homes may be the final home of many seniors throughout
the nation, that doesn’t mean that their death wasn’t preventable.
If your loved one has passed away in a nursing home and you believe it
was too sudden or unexpected, perhaps abuse or neglect could play a role.
If you noticed any of these common signs of nursing home abuse, you need
to report the issue to a trusted authority member or contact your local
Adult Protective Services agency. Additionally, you should retain legal
representation from an experienced
personal injury lawyer to recover financial compensation for your loved one’s trauma.
For more information,
contact the Law Office of James M. Stanley and request a
free consultation with our Fort Worth personal injury lawyer today.