The decision to place your loved one in a nursing home is never easy. For some families, it might be one of the most heartbreaking and tough decisions they make in their lifetime. This decision becomes harder when the comfort and care people expect their loved ones to receive from a nursing home is lacking. No one enjoys thinking about their loved ones being unaccompanied and unhappy in a long-term care facility. However, the reality is that this happens a lot. Nursing home residents often encounter cold behaviors, improper medical treatment and physical abuse from staff and administrators who are paid to help them.
If your loved one has been injured, an attorney, like a skilled Fort Collins personal injury lawyer, may be able to help.
Symptoms of Nursing Home Neglect
The signs and indications of nursing home neglect vary from resident to resident, and facility to facility. In some cases, the family suspect the insufficient care. Sometimes, the neglect is readily apparent, such as residents who are left to sit in soiled undergarments for an extended period of time. However, in other cases, the neglect and abuse might not be easily observed. It may be a “gut feeling” that you get in your stomach after visiting a family member who seemed shyer and more reserved than normal. Or a cold shoulder that you or a relative receive from the staff when you request assistance. Some of the most common warning signs of nursing home neglect includes:
- Withdrawal from family and friends
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Changes in demeanor
- Pressure sores
- Dirty conditions
Speak Up! Nursing Home Neglect Should Not Go Unreported
Emotional and physical abuse in nursing homes is unacceptable in the care of elderly. Exposing the abusive behavior at nursing homes is very important for the well-being of all the patients in the facility. Elderly residents often fail to report the mistreatment because they are not physically or mentally able. In other cases, they are reluctant to report neglect due to fear of retribution. This is a frequent factor in cases of elder neglect going unchecked and unreported. Regardless of having special lawful rights, nursing home patients are extremely susceptible to abuse and neglect by their care providers. It is important that loved ones speak up. It only takes a few minutes to call the ombudsman. Or in serious cases, report the neglect to the state’s Department of Health or a nursing home neglect lawyer.
Alarming Statistics of Nursing Home Abuse
The statistics of nursing home abuse are very disturbing while considering the fact that nursing home care violations often go unreported. Most of the victims are incapable to alter their families about the neglect or abuse they are suffering from. It has been reported that:
- 1 in 10 nursing homes had deficiencies resulting in harm, injury and death.
- 44% of the long-term care residents state that they have been abused
- 95% of the residents state that they have been neglected
- 50% of the staff admit to having mistreated a patient