Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “What information will be helpful for my nursing home negligence claim?”
One of the hardest decisions you will ever make is to put a loved one into nursing home care. When it becomes unsafe for a parent to live alone or when in-home care is not an option, the safest solution may be to choose a professional facility. You expect the nursing home will provide the best care possible, but unfortunately, that is not always the case. Nursing home neglect is on the rise, and incidences of abuse and neglect in these facilities are devastating to families. If your loved one suffered neglect or abuse in a nursing home, the negligent party should be held responsible.
Types of Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home abuse and neglect can occur in various ways. Medical neglect is a common problem in nursing homes and happens when improper or inadequate care is provided to a resident. Physical neglect occurs when the nursing home does not properly tend to a resident’s regular daily needs such as those related to hygiene and toileting. It can also happen when safety measures are not followed and results in falls or other physical harm. Emotional or social neglect happens when residents do not receive regular human interaction. Financial neglect or abuse occurs when someone takes money or property from a resident.
What are Signs of Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse?
Many relatives of nursing home residents may not always know when a loved one is facing neglect or abuse. An elderly loved one may be afraid to disclose the details of the situation or they may be unable to due to their physical or mental condition. It is up to you to make sure that you look for some of the most common signs of nursing home abuse or neglect.
- Bruises
- Weight loss
- Change in demeanor
- Poor hygiene
- Broken bones
- Bed sores
- Malnutrition or dehydration
Nursing home neglect is a serious problem, even in some of the best facilities. When you visit the facility make sure to look around and see the condition of the rooms and hallways for yourself. Watch the care that caregivers provide to residents and see how they interact with your loved one. If you notice any problems, report them immediately.
What Causes Nursing Home Neglect?
Nursing home neglect may occur for a number of reasons. Many nursing homes are overcrowded and understaffed. Turnover is usually high among low level caregivers in these types of facilities. Some caregivers are paid low wages and work long hours and overnight shifts. Mistakes can occur more readily when people are fatigued. Inadequate training can lead to neglectful care in nursing homes. Employees may not know the proper procedures and that can lead to falls, bedsores, medication mistakes, and more. Management may not have procedures in place to ensure proper care is provided, such as when to seek medical assistance or when to transport a patient to the hospital.
If you suspect that your loved one is being neglected or abused in a nursing home, do not delay. Report the problem to the facility manager. Remove your loved one from the nursing home if possible, to reduce further incidence of neglect. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Your lawyer knows how to research and evaluate the matter and will provide you with a path for justice. The negligent party will be held accountable for the injuries and damages they caused. Call (704) 370-2828 to receive a video, phone or in-person consultation with our lawyers to explore your legal options or fill out our contact form. Now taking cases throughout North Carolina with offices in Uptown Charlotte, Mooresville and Monroe.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.fightnursinghomeabuse.com/nursing-home-abuse-and-neglect/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bed-sores/symptoms-causes/syc-20355893
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/old-couple-1316755
See Our Related Video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArnoldSmithPLLC/videos
See Our Related Blog Posts:
What is Elder Abuse (and How to Fight it)