Neglect, next to battery and abuse, is the most
common mistreatment many nursing homes are guilty
of all over the United States. Neglect occurs
every time a nursing home resident is put into
risk due to deprivation of essential needs or
lack of protection from any threats to that adult’s
health or welfare.
Signs of neglect
include, but are not limited to:
- Bed-sores
- Dehydration
- Depression
- Disregard for daily care practices
- Failure to protect oneself from safety hazards
- Lack of caring for personal hygiene
- Malnutrition
- No access to medical services
- Over-medication
- Under-medication
- Unsanitary room conditions
To often residents of nursing homes are
left alone, ignored by staff or left with
abusive staff. Sometimes, abusive residents are
left unattended and exercise violence against
other, unprotected residents. Occasionally an
overworked staff member falls asleep and leave
residents to themselves.
Risk factors
There are many circumstances and risk factors
that all come into play and make nursing home
abuse even possible. Risk factors can be related
to the employees, or even the overall condition
of the facility, residents and family members.
The more risk factors are harbored in relation
to one specific nursing home facility, the greater
the risk of abuse. Consider some of the following
scenario's:
Employee risk factors
- Absenteeism
- Financial problems
- History of family violence
- Mental illness
- Poorly trained
- Power conflicts
- Social isolation
- Substance abuse
Facility risk factors
- Crowding
- Frequent reorganization
- High overtime demands
- Inadequate or uninformed administration
- Lack of staff training
- Poor communication
- Staff shortage
- Poor building maintenance
Resident risk factors
- Argumentative
- Demanding
- Hostile
- Intrusive
- Manipulative
- Mental illness
- Passive aggressive
- Substance abuse
If you suspect abuse in a nursing home,
you should seek medical attention immediately
if the circumstances require it. You should then
contact the local police. As criminal abuse of
the elderly is not acceptable, you should also
seek an attorney.
Attorneys specialized in nursing home abuse
and neglect have experience in these type of cases
and they know the legal rights of the nursing
home resident. Not only can those rights be rectified
and enforced, but at the same time, legal action
can be taken against the nursing home and the
abusive staff member particularly. While monetary
damages for the abused can be claimed, a lawsuit
with adequate consequences may also set an example
for other health care institutions, which may
then save many others from nursing home abuse
and neglect.
