What are the Signs of Nursing Home Neglect?

Millions of our elderly loved ones live in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Georgia and throughout the United States. We expect that our family members will be treated with love and respect in these facilities, but unfortunately our elderly are treated with neglect far more often than most people realize. Nursing home neglect can lead to serious injuries and even the death of our older loved ones, and recognizing the signs of neglect can help hold those responsible for their acts or omissions in caring for residents at nursing homes. For more information about nursing home neglect, call or contact the Atlanta office of Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. today to schedule a free consultation.

What is Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home neglect refers to the inadequate care of residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. This is a type of elder abuse that involves the substandard care of residents in nursing homes that leads to injuries and death due to a failure in caregiving duties. If left unattended, nursing home neglect can lead to amputation, dehydration, gastroenteritis, malnutrition, medication errors, MRSA, poor hygiene, respiratory infections, skin infections, urinary tract infections, and death.

Typically, nursing home neglect manifests itself in four different ways as medical neglect, neglect of basic needs, neglect of personal hygiene, and social or emotional neglect. Medical neglect is caused by a lack of attending to or preventing medical concerns. A neglect of basic needs refers to a lack of food, water, and safe environment in a nursing home. A neglect of personal hygiene is caused by staff failing to keep up residents’ hygiene, including bathing, brushing teeth, and laundry. Social or emotional neglect is caused by ignoring a nursing home resident, leaving them alone for extended periods of time, and constant unkind treatment.

Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

There are some signs of nursing home neglect that all family members of nursing home residents should be aware of and look out for when visiting their elders in long-term care facilities. If you notice any of the following during a nursing home visit, it is important that you speak with an experienced attorney right away. Signs of nursing home neglect include:

• Poor teeth hygiene
• Lack of bathing
• Dirty clothes
• Dirty bedding
• Evidence of pests
• Mold in bedrooms or common areas
• Constant irritability or tiredness
• Complaints of being constantly cold
• Hair loss
• Papery skin
• Loss or lack of mobility
• Unexplained injuries
• Anger, resentment, or depression
• Distancing from friends and family

The best ways to avoid nursing home neglect are to watch for signs of neglect while visiting family members, regularly contacting your loved ones, carefully reviewing nursing home facilities, and believing loved ones if notified of neglect.

Call Our Office Now

If you or someone you know suspect nursing home neglect of an elderly loved one, call or contact the law office of Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. today to schedule a free consultation of the case.