Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Most people are not thrilled with the prospect of putting an elderly loved one in a nursing home. However, for many families nursing homes are the best option to provide long-term care for a parent, grandparent or other aging family member. When people finally make the decision to place a person into a nursing home’s care, they trust that the facility and the medical personnel employed there will provide loving, attentive care. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and many nursing home residents fall victim to abuse or neglect. In fact, it has been reported that 30% of the approximate 17,000 nursing homes across the country have received violations that could harm residents.

If you have a loved one being cared for in a nursing home environment, it is important to watch for any signs of abuse or neglect rather than assume that person will report any wrongdoing because residents may be:

· Unable to report wrongdoing due to medications or diminishing mental capacity

· Unwilling to report wrongdoing because of fear of consequences

· Unaware of any wrongdoing

Types of Misconduct

Because nursing home residents are basically at the “mercy” of the staff and medical personnel, they can easily fall victim to:

· Physical abuse

· Mental abuse

· Neglect

· Isolation

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse includes:

· Broken bones, sprains or black eyes

· Bruises, cuts, welts, scratches or burns

· Hair loss

· Internal or external bleeding

· Fear or anxiety with staff members or other residents

· Physical restraints on beds and wheelchairs (not doctor approved)

· Drooling, lethargy, dry/cracked lips

· Death

Physical abuse may also be in conjunction with sexual abuse.

Mental Abuse

Mental abuse includes:

• Fear or nervousness


• Anxiety or anger


• Depression


• Confusion


• Withdrawal


• Isolation


• Insulting comments

Neglect

Signs of nursing home neglect include:

• Bedsores anywhere on the body


• Unexplained weight loss


• Depression


• Lack of general hygiene


• Unsupervised wandering residents


• Dirty clothing or unkempt appearance


• Bruising or fractures due to falls

Isolation

Any nursing home refusal for communication with your loved one should raise a red flag. Signs of isolation could include:

• Family members and loved ones not permitted to visit with the resident in private


• Restriction of visitors, phone calls and mail for residents


• Staff members speaking for the resident, rather than letting the resident communicate directly

Nursing home abuse and neglect can lead to wrongful death or catastrophic injury. If you feel that a loved one has suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home setting, know that nursing home residents have basic rights that are protected by Federal and state statutes. An experienced attorney can help you take legal action against the facility or medical personnel and help to ensure the abuse does not continue in the future.

Please contact the experienced nursing home neglect attorneys of Snyder & Wenner, P.C. in Phoenix, Arizona who can answer your questions, help protect your loved one and get you the compensation you deserve.