You don’t have to sit idly by if you suspect that your elderly loved one is being neglected in a long term care facility. Long term care facilities are required to meet federal and state regulations and standards. An experienced lawyer a knows nursing home laws and can advise you on the best path to follow to achieve justice for your loved one.
Here is a list of warning signs that your loved one may be the victim of nursing home negligence, neglect, or abuse:
o Bedsores or decubitus ulcers
o Unexplained bruises or injuries
o Inappropriate use of restraints
o Failure to turn patients in bed or move them from wheelchairs, causing ulcers or bedsores
o Slip and fall accidents due to staff inattention
o Malnutrition
o Dehydration
o Unexplained injury such as fracture
o Failure to use bedrails, resulting in falls
o Medication Errors
If your loved one suffers from dementia then he or she is even more prone to abuse. Dementia patients can be difficult to care for due to agitated behavior and confusion. This can lead to bruises or marks from rough handling by a care giver which the patient won’t even remember. Needless to say, neglect is a dangerous situation that should be addressed as quickly as possible.
If you think a family member is being abused make sure to visit at different hours of the day. This may help you get a better idea of when the abuse is taking place or if it is from one individual. Talk to the nursing home management to try and rectify the problem. If this does not work then get help for your loved one so no one suffers needlessly.
