Nursing Home Neglect
When a nursing home accepts a resident into its facility, it has a responsibility and owes certain duties to the resident to meet his or her specific needs related to his condition. Many of the injuries and accidents that commonly occur in nursing homes are the result of negligence, and sometimes even intentional acts of abuse. When a nursing home causes harm to a resident because it fails to act responsibly, the nursing home should be held accountable.
Signs that your loved one may be receiving inadequate or poor treatment in a nursing home may include any of the following:
- Unexplained injuries (i.e., bruises, fractures)
- Falls
- Rapid weight loss
- Pressure sores (also called bed sores and pressure ulcers)
- Sudden decline in physical or mental condition
- Change in behavior
- Afraid or fearful of staff and/or other residents
- Wandering outside the facility (or into inappropriate areas inside the facility)
- Foul smell continuously or frequently
- Infections such as sepsis, osteomyelitis, urinary tract infections, infected pressure sores
Examples of common nursing home abuse and neglect claims include the following:
- Assault by nursing home staff or other residents (i.e., fear of harm and/or fear of any offensive touching)
- Battery by nursing home staff or other residents (i.e., any harmful or offensive touching, can be sexual or violent)
- Physical or chemical restraint (above minimum required by the resident’s condition)
- Malnutrition (failure to provide appropriate diet and/or assist in feeding)
- Dehydration (failure to provide appropriate liquids and/or assist in drinking)
- Inappropriate medications (over-medication, under-medication, incorrect medication)
- Negligence resulting in unexplained injuries, falls, fractures, decline in health, worsening condition and other injuries
- Unsanitary and unclean conditions (failure to provide/assist in toileting, incontinent care, personal hygiene and a clean room including fresh bedding/linens and safe floors)
- Stealing, theft, fraud, forgery
- Bed sore, pressure sore or pressure ulcer development or worsening
- Infections
- Insufficient number of staff in relation to the number of residents
- Inadequately trained and/or overworked staff
- Inappropriately supervised staff
- Negligent hiring and retention of staff (i.e., employing staff with criminal history)
- Wandering outside the facility
Federal Nursing Home Reform Law requires each Nursing Home to:
- “Care for its residents in such a manner and in such an environment as will promote maintenance or enhancement of the quality of life of each resident”
- “Provide services and activities to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident in accordance with a written plan of care….”
I have a wealth of experience in the legal fields of nursing home negligence, nursing home abuse, personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful deaths. Nursing home neglect, personal injury and wrongful death litigation are a special focus of my law office, please contact me right away if you feel your loved one is suffering from nursing home neglect.
For Your FREE Legal Consultation CONTACT The Law Office of Marc Mabile Today!