We know how much our elderly loved ones mean to us. But when the time comes that they are too ill or frail to live at home, they can end up in the care of people who feel free to take out their frustrations on the vulnerable. Our loved ones become just another thing to abuse. Or the nursing facility you choose may seem to be just fine, but turn out to be one of the many so understaffed that its residents suffer unconscionable neglect.
Most nursing home residents are in a state of complete dependence upon their caregivers for food, water, exercise, medication, therapy, and human interaction. They may be confused and susceptible to being swindled or misled. If they don’t get the services you’ve paid for, their health can suffer. Patients confined to bed or using wheelchairs can develop painful bedsores that can become badly infected. If they get the wrong medication or doses are skipped they are vulnerable to illness or death from medical complications. Lack of supervision can result in falls and broken bones.
Each year in the United States, an estimated 2.1 million seniors are the victims of some form of abuse. And nearly a third of all nursing homes in the United States have been reported for abuse. But the reported abuse is in all likelihood only the tip of the iceberg.
Types and Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home abuse includes physical, mental, sexual, and psychological, as well as financial exploitation. Patient neglect can include physical, mental, and medical neglect, unsanitary or unclean conditions, health and safety hazards, and more.
Some of the symptoms of nursing home neglect or abuse include:
- Broken bones
- Bruises
- Cuts
- Bedsores
- Scars
- Poor hygiene
- Fear of nursing home staff
- Declining health due to medication errors or skipped doses
But nursing home neglect or abuse can also be difficult to detect, even for family members in regular close contact. If you even suspect nursing home abuse or elderly neglect, report the matter to the authorities and then contact an experienced attorney.
Because the defendants in nursing home abuse and neglect cases are often large insurance companies and corporations with enormous financial resources, you need an attorney who cannot be intimidated. You need an attorney who will fight aggressively on your behalf. You need an experienced attorney who will not make mistakes in preparing your claim, during negotiations, or in trial that could reduce the amount of compensation you receive. You need Gerald Schwab.
