The Philadelphia nursing home lawyers at Wieand Law Firm represent clients who have suffered due to nursing home neglect and abuse. Neglect in nursing homes is related to abuse in nursing homes, but there are key differences among the two. Nursing home abuse is when a caregiver aims to injure or inflict emotional harm upon an elderly person, while nursing home negligence is a form of poor care, or a breach of responsibility, which causes harm to the patient.
The data reflecting cases of abuse in United States including elderly residents in nursing homes are both overwhelming and disheartening. Nursing home neglect is a serious concern and elders who have been ill-treated have a 300% greater chance of expiry in the 3 years subsequent the abuse than those who aren’t ill-treated.
Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
The common signs of neglect in nursing homes includes:
→ Bedsore injuries
→ Dehydration
→ Falls, fractures or head injuries
→ Infections
→ Instances of wandering from the facility
→ Malnutrition
→ Burns and scalding injury
Types of Nursing Home Neglect
Types of nursing home negligence are unique to each individual and nursing home. Four common types of nursing home negligence include:
Medical Neglect
It happens when the nursing home fails to attend appropriately to medical conditions of the resident. Many times, this entails comprising care of diabetes, bed sores, mental disorders, infections, lacerations or issues of movement.
Basic Need Neglect
This type of neglect includes the failure to provide with sufficient amount of food or water or fails to provide a safe and clear environment to the resident.
Personal Hygiene Neglect
Personal hygiene neglect includes the failure to provide the resident with sufficient support with cleaning, brushing their teeth, bathing, laundry or other types of cleanliness practices.
Emotional Neglect
Emotional neglect occurs when the staff members of the nursing home ignore the resident, leave them unaccompanied or isolated, or shout at them. Elder psychological abuse can be verbal as well as non-verbal. Unlike physical abuse, it can be tougher to notice signs of emotional neglect.
Documenting Potential Evidence
If you believe that someone you love has been the object of nursing home neglect, you should instantly bring your worries to the attention of the nursing home manager and staff. Research shows that nursing home patients who are frequently visited by their family, friends, and other loved ones are less likely to experience negligence at nursing homes. If applicable to your situation, you should take pictures of any bruises, wounds, or signs of insufficient care. This will help you clarify and document your concerns to the administration or others from whom you seek help.
Rules on Filing a Nursing Home Negligence Lawsuit
If your loved one or family member is being ill-treated or neglected, the nursing home and its staff should be held answerable for their actions. A neglect suit might be brought if there is a failure to deliver the proper level of care to the resident, failure to uphold satisfactory health and safety rules, or failure to deliver the essential standard of care and medical treatment.
You should speak with an attorney in your state if you believe elder abuse or neglect is occurring. Each state has state-specific laws that can differ, and as such, consulting an attorney in your area who regularly handles these types of cases will be of great help to protecting your loved one.
Thanks to our friends and contributors at the Wieand Law Firm for their insight into nursing home cases.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice