Nursing homes are environments that should be both caring and peaceful spaces where senior citizens can spend time enjoying their golden years. Unfortunately, there are some nursing homes that fail to live up to the expectation of providing such a space.
There are some nursing homes that are rife with the levels of negligence and abusive behavior that end up in causing serious harm to seniors. If you are visiting one of your elderly loved ones, it’s important to learn to identify the common nursing home abuse signs that can mean that their safety and health is at risk. There are times when a nursing home negligence attorney is needed to represent your loved one’s interest. Nursing home negligence is nursing home abuse.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes, which are essentially fully staffed, skilled nursing facilities, provide a wide range of health and personal care services to the elderly. Their services focus on medical care more than most assisted living facilities. Nursing homes are also commonly referred to as:
- Old folks’ homes
- Care homes
- Rest homes
- Convalescent homes
- Convalescent care
- Skilled nursing
- Long-term facilities
As the population of the state of Indiana increases in age, nursing home residencies will continue to grow. Unfortunately, there will be an increase in nursing home abuse signs that will potentially be seen.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Sign of Abuse: Malnutrition
Both intentional and accidental forms of neglect will often cause nursing home residents to become malnourished and dehydrated. A common nursing home abuse sign of Individuals suffering from malnutrition, is a sudden unexplained weight loss and feel fatigued or dizzy. Often a sign of inadequate nutrition is poor concentration the risk of illness. Left Untreated, malnutrition can lead to severe disabilities and even death.
Sign of Abuse: Unexplained Injuries
A commonly overlooked sign of nursing home abuse (negligence) is an increase in unexplained injuries. Fall-related injuries occur often with the elderly. Signs such as:
- Bruises
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
Unexplained injuries of that type can be due to intentional physical abuse, but these same unexplained injuries could also stem from some forms of neglect. A common cause of injuries of these types would be if the nursing home staff members fail to provide adequate help to rest home residents. A nursing home resident who is prone to falls, might attempt to walk by themselves, which increases their risk of falling and sustaining an injury. Neglect is a form of abuse.
Loved One Showing Nursing Home Abuse Signs?
Call 800-228-7800
Sign of Abuse: Behavioral Changes
Serious forms of nursing home neglect can cause a significant amount of emotional stress in an elderly person’s life. This excess stress manifests itself in number of behavioral changes. Some of the
- Becoming depressed
- An increased reluctance to talk with friends or family
- Neglecting their hygiene
- Refusing to take medication
Elderly people should be cared for closely and actively monitored. Any noticeable changes should be investigated as a potential sign of nursing home abuse right away.
Actively Monitor Nursing Home Abuse Signs
When you actively monitor nursing home abuse signs, it becomes easier to discover any anomalies that may appear and prevent any nursing home neglect from occurring. If you are in need of a nursing home neglect attorney, call our office at 800-228-7800 today!
