Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

The decision to place a loved one in a nursing home is not easy. When families make that decision, they put their utmost trust in nursing homes to watch over their loved ones. Unfortunately, nursing homes do not always provide the care and services that families expect, and subject elders and dependent adults, who are in their most vulnerable state, to nursing home abuse and neglect.

What are Some Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?

Abuse and neglect in a nursing home can take many forms. However, some of the common signs of abuse and neglect are as follows:

• Physical abuse (such as pushing, kicking, shaking, or beating)
• Lack of care for existing medical conditions (such as failure to prevent or care for bed sores/pressure ulcers)
• Unexplained injures (such as wounds, cuts, bruises, broken bones, and hip fractures)
• Unexplained falls
• Malnutrition (such as prolonged or continual deprivation of food or water)
• Medication errors causing a resident to have a stroke
• Instances of wandering/elopement
• Unreasonable physical restraint
• Use of chemical restraint (such as psychotropic medication to sedate resident)
• Resident on resident altercation
• Sexual abuse

Any type of nursing home abuse that involves physical injuries, emotional injuries, assault, financial abuse, and other forms should consult with a nursing home abuse and neglect attorney.

What Causes Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?

There can be many reasons such as staffing shortages, lack of proper staff training and experience, poor supervision and management, stress, substance abuse, and individual caregiver and resident issues. Just the thought of your elderly family member being abused in a nursing home is disturbing. It is important that you review what’s going on in the nursing home and listen to your family member that is living there.

If you suspect that your loved one is not being properly cared for at their nursing home and/or realize that your loved one has had an unexplained injury or illness, the personal injury lawyers at Heidari Law Group can help fight for your rights and review your nursing home abuse case.

***Disclaimer: The content of this webpage, created by Heidari Law Group, is intended solely for educational purposes. While it endeavors to provide a general understanding of the law, it should not be construed as specific legal advice. Accessing and reading this site does not establish an attorney-client relationship with any member of Heidari Law. Furthermore, please be aware that the legal landscape is constantly evolving, potentially rendering some information outdated or inapplicable.