What are the signs of abuse and neglect?
What are the signs of abuse and neglect? Loved ones residing in nursing homes should be monitored for signs of abuse or neglect. Patients have become severely ill, permanently injured, or even killed as a result of nursing home negligence. The following signs and symptoms may indicate nursing home abuse. It is important to investigate immediately if any of them are present in your loved one's environment:
- Weight loss
- Dehydration or complaints of thirst
- Bedsores
- Persistent Bad Odor
- Persistent Recurrence of Urinary Infections
- Wounds on the skin that can't be explained
- Unexplained bruising
- Rashes
- Sudden, unexplained changes in a patient's behavior
- Mood swings, crying, or lack of interest in their surroundings
- Loss of usual mobility
People who have loved ones residing in assisted living facilities should also monitor the presence or absence of adequate medical staff at the facility as well as any signs of staff ignoring or neglecting the patient's environment, such as prescription medications left over at the end of their prescribing period, unclean or inadequate hygienic facilities, or the presence of individuals other than trained and licensed staff in the facility or the resident's room. Indicators such as these may indicate a systematic culture of negligence in the facility that should be addressed, perhaps with legal action on your behalf by an experienced personal injury lawyer who understands the value of nursing home negligence cases.
Use of Restraints
Restraints are sometimes used in nursing home facilities to immobilize individuals who might harm themselves moving in bed. Unfortunately, restraints can be misused or over-used, risking personal injury. Restraints might endanger circulation or blood pressure, increase a resident's risk of urinary infection or pneumonia, and even cause death. A restrained patient may experience constipation or incontinence. Restraints held in place for long periods of time can weaken a person's bone structure or cause pressure wounds, commonly called bedsores, which can become severely infected or even gangrenous.
The state of being restrained also can seriously affect an elderly patient's state of mind. The loss of personal autonomy can cause a resident to become severely depressed or withdrawn, affecting the ability to interact socially. Being restrained could also interfere with sleep patterns and increase levels of distress and agitation, raising the risk of further physical injury.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You Correct Nursing Home Negligence
We know how very important your loved ones are to you, and how agonizing it is to worry about their care. The elderly deserve all the care and help that you can provide. When you enter into a contract for care, you expect that contract to be upheld, and your loved ones to be treated with proper medical attention as well as with compassion and dignity.
If you suspect that your loved ones are being abused or neglected by a nursing home organization or facility to which you have entrusted their care, you can take action to redress this injury to them. You or your loved ones may be eligible for compensation that will help them recover from any injuries they may have suffered, as well as secure funds for their additional care, should it be required. The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin has dealt with cases of nursing home negligence and can counsel you on the legal actions that may be appropriate in your situation, including filing a lawsuit on your loved one's behalf to address their abuse and neglect, and discourage other organizations from taking advantage of the elderly.
Any personal injury can seriously affect the future well being of your loved ones. You deserve the counsel and protection of a qualified, experienced personal injury law firm that knows how to deal with these claims. We can help you understand the value of your nursing home negligence case and how best to proceed. Call the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin at 1-800-220-7321 or contact us right now and find out if you have a case today.
