Nursing homes and other residential care facilities are supposed to be safe places where your aging or disabled loved ones can get the extra attention and support they need. Unfortunately, that care isn’t always what you should be able to expect. When you’re considering moving a family member into a nursing home or other facility, it’s important to do your research. It’s equally important to keep a close eye on your loved one’s condition while they’re in the facility and act quickly if you have concerns.
If your family member has been neglected or abused in a nursing home or other residential setting, an experienced nursing home abuse and neglect attorney like Frank Hartman at The Hartman Law Firm can help. To schedule a free consultation, call 843-300-7600 right now, or fill out our contact form.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many different forms. Some of the most common include:
- Insufficient fall protection
- Inadequate nutrition or hydration
- Failing to monitor medical condition and arrange medical attention
- Failing to identify and treat bedsores
- Physical abuse by staff members
- Verbal/psychological abuse by staff members
- Failure to prevent abuse by other residents
Because nursing home residents are typically medically vulnerable, undetected neglect or abuse can have catastrophic results. For example, bedsores might not sound serious, but left untreated they can lead to amputation, or even be fatal. Even dehydration can be fatal when it is extreme, and more moderate dehydration can mean worse medical outcomes for other illnesses or conditions.
These and other types of abuse and neglect may happen because:
- The facility lacks appropriate policies and procedures: for example, a resident may fall because a facility doesn’t have an established protocol for getting residents who need assistance out of bed in the morning
- The facility doesn’t exercise appropriate care in hiring staff: for example, the facility fails to conduct a background check or ignores the content of the report and hires a staff member with a history of resident abuse
- The facility doesn’t provide sufficient training and supervision to staff: for example, the facility does have a written protocol for getting residents out of bed, but new CNAs are not provided with instruction on the process
- The facility itself is poorly maintained: for example, residents may suffer harm if call buttons aren’t working properly, if bed rails are loose, or if walking surfaces are not stable and clear of obstacles
- The facility is understaffed: for example, a resident may be endangered if lack of staffing means it takes too long to answer an urgent call light or a staff member is too rushed in assisting a resident
Of course, this list is not comprehensive. These are just some of the most common reasons nursing home residents don’t get the care they deserve, or are abused by staff members or other residents.
Preventing Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
The first line of defense against nursing home neglect or abuse is to thoroughly vet a facility you are considering. That means visiting the facility and doing research on their history and ratings. Medicare’s website is a good starting point–the site offers rating information in many areas, including inspections of the property, staffing and other quality measures.
When you visit a facility, pay attention to things like:
- Cleanliness
- How staff interacts with residents
- The food being served
- The condition of residents you see
- Whether the residents are engaged in activities
- The number of staff members on duty and how long it takes them to respond when a resident puts on their call light
You’ll also want to ask specific questions about staffing, activities, safety measures for any issues affecting your family member such as confusion or balance problems and how often residents see a physician.
Once your family member is in a nursing home, stay alert for signs of abuse or neglect. Some signs are more obvious, but there are also some signals that you might not automatically connect to their treatment at the facility. Common signs include:
- Signs of anxiety or withdrawal
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Trouble sleeping
- Unexpected weight loss
- Unexpected cognitive decline
- Bruises or lacerations
- Marks from restraints
- Decline in hygiene
- Untreated bedsores
Liability for Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
If a loved one has been harmed or has passed away due to abuse or neglect in a nursing home or other residential facility, the facility may be liable for damages. Compensation in a nursing home neglect case can help transition the resident to a more appropriate setting, cover any medical or other expenses associated with the abuse or neglect, and even compensate the resident for the physical and emotional suffering they’ve endured.
The best source of information about whether you have a claim, who can bring the claim, and what type of claim you may have is an experienced Charleston nursing home neglect lawyer. Don’t delay getting the help you need–schedule your free consultation right now.