Detecting Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Provided by HG.org
It may seem unthinkable that anyone would want to injure a defenseless elderly person, but it happens everyday. Nursing home abuse takes many forms, but all of it can be damaging, whether emotionally, physically, or financially. Knowing the signs of nursing home abuse and contacting a nursing home abuse lawyer if you know or suspect your loved one has been abused or neglected is critical in protecting both your loved one and others who may not have family or those as attentive as you.
One of the most common forms of nursing home abuse is simple neglect. Nursing home neglect is frequently overlooked and often results in a decline in your loved one's general health and, eventually, the premature death of those elderly people entrusted to nursing home care facilities. Of course, neglect of the elderly can occur anywhere and can take many shapes, but is most often seen in nursing home facilities where family is less directly involved and immediately aware that it is occurring. Indeed, what makes nursing home neglect so dangerous is that it can be overlooked or ignored for days, week, or even months. Even upon repeated visits to a nursing home, the signs of nursing home neglect can remain hidden, and if your loved one is no longer able to accurately communicate their own condition you may not be able to tell the neglect is occurring.
The causes of nursing home abuse are many: underpaid employees, poor training, inadequate staff. Sadly, it is usually not possible to detect which facilities will provide the best care simply by outside appearances. Some of the worst cases of nursing home neglect and abuse happen at facilities that, from the outside, seem clean, professional, and well run. Often, management is aware that a problem exists but allows it to persist because, after all, a nursing home is a business and the primary focus is always on the bottom line. Of course, sometimes there will be tell-tale signs of inadequate care. If you visit a facility and see elderly persons, particularly those suffering from conditions like dementia or Alzheimer's, left unattended in hallways, this may be a sign of an understaffed facility. Similarly, dirty or poorly maintained buildings may be a sign of poor maintenance that could result in injury or illness for your loved one. Although expense may be a factor, you should try to avoid cutting corners in your loved one's nursing home needs or you risk their health and lives.
Unfortunately, there are circumstances in which residents of nursing homes experience an elevated risk of a number of ailments. These issues can occur because of a lack of appropriate care, neglect, or they can simply result from the declining physical state that accompanies old age and created a need for long-term care in the first place. To determine what the cause of your loved one's suffering is, you may want to contact an attorney specialized in personal injury and/or elder law issues. Such an attorney will not only be able to provide you with legal advice, but may be able to obtain experts who can evaluate your loved one's circumstances and determine whether they are receiving the level of care they deserve or have been abused or neglected.
Copyright HG.org - Google+
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
The causes of nursing home abuse are many: underpaid employees, poor training, inadequate staff. Sadly, it is usually not possible to detect which facilities will provide the best care simply by outside appearances. Some of the worst cases of nursing home neglect and abuse happen at facilities that, from the outside, seem clean, professional, and well run. Often, management is aware that a problem exists but allows it to persist because, after all, a nursing home is a business and the primary focus is always on the bottom line. Of course, sometimes there will be tell-tale signs of inadequate care. If you visit a facility and see elderly persons, particularly those suffering from conditions like dementia or Alzheimer's, left unattended in hallways, this may be a sign of an understaffed facility. Similarly, dirty or poorly maintained buildings may be a sign of poor maintenance that could result in injury or illness for your loved one. Although expense may be a factor, you should try to avoid cutting corners in your loved one's nursing home needs or you risk their health and lives.
Unfortunately, there are circumstances in which residents of nursing homes experience an elevated risk of a number of ailments. These issues can occur because of a lack of appropriate care, neglect, or they can simply result from the declining physical state that accompanies old age and created a need for long-term care in the first place. To determine what the cause of your loved one's suffering is, you may want to contact an attorney specialized in personal injury and/or elder law issues. Such an attorney will not only be able to provide you with legal advice, but may be able to obtain experts who can evaluate your loved one's circumstances and determine whether they are receiving the level of care they deserve or have been abused or neglected.
Copyright HG.org - Google+
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
