Leaving a loved one in the hands of someone else is often a very difficult decision to make. Most people spend months researching the best nursing homes in their area and for the best place that can provide top-notch care for their elderly family members.
Unfortunately, even the best facilities are sometimes guilty of nursing home negligence, and the signs of it should never be disregarded.
Let’s take a closer look at the typical cases of neglect, and what you should do to handle the situation.
Emotional Neglect
Emotional neglect, otherwise known as elder psychological abuse, is one of the most difficult types of neglect to discern. Members of the nursing staff might be ridiculing a patient, humiliating them, intimidating, or even ignoring completely.
Signs of emotional abuse usually include very low self-esteem, sudden changes in mood, lack of eye contact, refusing to speak or eat. In case you notice any of these symptoms, talking with a resident psychologist can help you determine if it’s a case of neglect.
Medical Neglect
There are two most common types of medical neglect in nursing homes. Usually, the patient is either overmedicated or undermedicated. Medical neglect can also include failure to recognize and take steps to deal with the signs of malnutrition or dehydration, as well as failure to send your loved one to a hospital if necessary.
Most typical signs of medical neglect include growing bedsores and unexplained falls. If the patient is over or under-medicated, signs depend on the medicine itself, but most commonly you’ll notice a major health deterioration.
Neglect of Personal Hygiene
The overall hygiene in a nursing facility can have a serious effect on the elderly’s health and can even be fatal. The elderly’s immune system is weakening due to their advanced age, which is why it’s essential to keep a close eye on the cleanliness of the facility where you’re sending your loved one to.
Neglect of personal hygiene includes leaving a resident in soiled clothing, failing to change and wash them, falls under more serious forms of neglect. It’s important to deal with it sooner rather than later.
Neglect of Basic Needs
Nursing home negligence is often seen in a failure to provide for the residents’ basic needs. Typically, those include food, water, and sanitation.
Sudden or unexplained weight loss is the most typical sign of malnutrition and dehydration, but the patient might also show signs of depression, sleep deprivation, mood swings, unexplained worsening of medical and mental conditions, and more.
Steps to Take
If you notice any suspicious signs that your loved one is being neglected, it’s important to act immediately. One of the first things you should do is verify your suspicions by talking with your loved one and other residents of the facility. Removing them from the nursing home is essential in the worse cases of neglect.
Contacting an attorney is a must. Vasilatos Injury Law attorneys have years of experience with cases like these, and we’ll let you know when to file a lawsuit and how we can help with the process.
Nursing home negligence can have dire consequences and can often be fatal. Catch the signs of neglect early and protect your loved one by contacting us today!
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