When you entrust your loved one to a nursing home, you expect that their care will meet basic nursing home standards. Unfortunately, abuse and neglect are too common in many nursing homes. Your loved ones might be suffering without your realizing it. Look for these six signs of nursing home abuse:
- Bed sores
- One of the clearest signs of nursing home neglect is bed sores (also known, as pressure ulcers). Bedsores occur when bed bound residents remain in the same position for too many days or even hours. The blood flow to their skin is reduced due to constant pressure and it begins to breakdown. Bedsores are preventable if nursing homes regularly reposition residents and provide adequate skin care. Bed sores are evidence of nursing home’s failure to meet a minimum standard of care.
- Weight loss
- A nursing home residents’ sudden or unexplained weight loss may be a sign that their diet is insufficient or improper. Another possibility is that their medications are being mismanaged. Either reason is a significant sign of potential nursing home neglect.
- Unexplained injuries
- Nursing homes employees are required to treat residents with care and to avoid injuring them. Any unexplained injuries are evidence of staff neglect and may even signal active physical abuse.
- Mood swings
- As a general rule, a nursing home resident’s mental state should remain more or less stable over time. If they are suffering from mood swings, it can be a sign of nursing home abuse, either due to mistreatment by the staff or medication mismanagement.
- Aversion to specific people
- Many nursing home residents do not have good memories. However, they may still have a residual fear of people who have hurt them. A resident’s otherwise unexplained aversion to specific nursing home staff can be a sign of physical abuse.
- Sudden worsening of medical conditions
- One of the most essential duties of any nursing home is to manage their residents’ medical conditions. If a resident’s health takes a sudden turn for the worse, after they are admitted to a nursing home, it could be a sign of inadequate care.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, contact the New York personal injury lawyers at the Katter Law Firm. We will help you to determine whether you have a legal claim to recover money for you injuries. To schedule a consultation, contact us at 212-809-4293, or visit our contact page.