The Basics of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

 Posted on April 08, 2020 in Neglect

When a family decides to place their loved one in the care of a nursing home, they assume that the staff will take every measure to protect and care for their loved one. Tragically, this is not always the cause. Sometimes, nursing homes are either negligent to their residents’ needs or they treat them cruelly.

Examples of Nursing Home Neglect

There have been countless instances of physical abuse, mental abuse, or sexual abuse against residents living in nursing homes. Nursing home residents have rights just like anyone else, and they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Because residents are often unable to fight for their own rights, they rely on concerned family members to do so on their behalf.

In addition to intentional mistreatment and abuse, nursing home neglect is also a serious problem which can lead to:

• Errors in administering medication that may cause death or serious injury
• Bedsores/pressure ulcers as a result of being left in a single position for too long
• Dehydration or malnutrition from a substandard diet
• Increased susceptibility to illness
• Infections that may lead to serious illness
• Bone fractures or tissue damage from falling
• Decline in the resident’s ability to function
• Depression or anxiety from excessive isolation
• Illness or infection caused by staff members’ inadequate hand-washing or sanitation

Staff Responsibilities and Residents’ Rights

Nursing home residents are put into danger when facilities fail to properly supervise their employees, are understaffed, or skip background checks before hiring new staff. Sometimes in extreme cases, nursing home staff actually hurt the residents on purpose. This can happen when a staff member gets frustrated or angry and takes it out on a vulnerable patient. Other times, a staff member takes advantage of residents because he or she knows that the residents are unable to report the abusive behavior. A nursing home should be held responsible if they fail to:

• Conduct background investigations on employees who have a history of physical abuse.
• Properly supervise staff members or hire sufficient supervisory staff.
• Train employees on how to recognize and report any signs of abuse or neglect.
• Take the appropriate action when a report of abuse or neglect is reported within the nursing home.

We all have a responsibility to protect the members of our society who are most fragile. There is no excuse for nursing home abuse and neglect.

Compassionate Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Lawyers in Illinois

If you suspect that your loved one is being abused or neglected while staying in a nursing home, do not hesitate to seek help. Take measures to remove your loved one from the abusive environment if he or she is still staying there. Once the nursing home resident is out of harm's way, Schwartz Injury Law can help you begin the process of holding guilty parties accountable for their actions or negligence. Schedule a free initial consultation with one of our experienced Chicago nursing home injury attorneys by calling 312-535-4625 today.

Sources:

https://www.carepathways.com/articles/signs-of-elderly-neglect-or-abuse-in-nursing-home.cfm

http://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.org/