Possibly the most difficult decision anyone will ever make is the decision to place a parent or loved one in a nursing home. Everyone hopes that the nursing home will provide proper care and protect our loved ones. In far too many cases, however, nursing home abuse happens as nursing facilities fail to take care of our loved ones. This leaves the patients, our loved ones, to endure awful nursing home abuse and neglect. If you have reason to believe your loved one has suffered from nursing home abuse or neglected in a nursing home, please talk to a nursing home abuse attorney at The Low Law Firm. We take these cases very seriously.
There are many laws and regulations that exist to protect victims nursing home abuse and neglect in a nursing home.
Unfortunately, the state regulatory agencies are overwhelmed with complaints and investigations. Approximately, 2.1 million seniors are victims of elder abuse in the United States each year. While that is a shocking figure, what is worse is the fact that for every case of nursing home abuse and neglect that is reported, there may be up to 5 not that go unreported. Sometimes, the only option is to hire an injury attorney to address the issue.
If you have a loved one in a nursing home and you are concerned, there are signs to look for. Below is a list of some of the most common forms of neglect we see, it is by no means a complete list. Listen to your intuition…your gut, if you will. If you feel something is not right…it probably isn’t.
Types of Neglect:
Bedsores, Pressure Sores, Decubitus Ulcers: This is far and away the most common sign of neglect.
Falls/Fractures: There is no question that as we age, falls become more common; however, they are often preventable.
Wandering: We have seen too many cases of patients leaving a nursing home unattended, the end result is often serious injury or death.
Malnutrition and dehydration: This is a very common indicator that your loved one is being neglected.
Medication errors: Nursing home staff must take great care to properly administer medication to each patient. When the staff fails to follow the proper medication protocols, it is our loved ones who suffer the effects.
Sexual or physical abuse: This should not only be reported to the state immediately, you should contact an attorney right away for consultation.
Nursing Home abuse is rampant in this country.
It is becoming an epidemic that is largely unaddressed. All too often noticing the signs of abuse go unnoticed because the abuse is emotional or mental. Nursing home staff will intimidate their patients by yelling at them and threatening them. They will humiliate them, ignore them, isolate them from other residents, terrorize them, and mock them.
Some things to look for would be fear of a particular employee, an expression of fear of getting in trouble, nervousness when a staff member is in the room. The absolute best thing you can do is rely on your own intuition, listen to your loved ones, and pay attention to anything that might seem out of the ordinary.
As always, a consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer is free. If you are concerned, contact a nursing home abuse lawyer at the Low Law Firm, in Abilene, Texas. If nothing else, we can listen and guide you to the right regulatory agency for investigation.