Nursing Home Neglect
We trust that nursing homes will take care of our elderly and those who cannot care for themselves. Nursing homes promise us that they will, and they also promise our government that they will comply with legal regulations that they will not neglect their residents. Too often these promises are not kept and our trust is violated.
Common signs of nursing home neglect are:
- Bedsores (also called pressure sores and decubitus ulcers)
Bedsores commonly develop on certain points on the body on which people lie and where the bone is near the skin. Examples are the tail bone and the heels. The resident’s weight, pressing down on the bone, prevents the blood from supplying oxygen and nutrients to the skin next to the bone. Nursing homes should be able to identify residents at risk for developing bedsores, especially those who cannot walk, those with diabetes, and those with circulation problems. Once these residents have been identified, nursing homes must take some simple steps to prevent bedsores from forming. Bedridden residents should be frequently repositioned on the bed. Special beds can also be used to prevent a build-up of pressure. When these steps are not taken, bedsores can develop quickly, they can penetrate down to the bone, and they provide an entry point for severe infection and sepsis. - Dehydration
Most of our elderly are chronically dehydrated, even though keeping properly hydrated is relatively easy. When dehydration is allowed to progress, the body is less able to defend itself from infection and to heal its injuries. Dehydrated nursing home residents develop bedsores and infections more quickly and more severely. - Sudden Weight Loss
Sudden weight loss results from malnutrition, which has a number of preventable causes. These causes, such as nausea and vomiting from medications, poor dental care, poor tasting food, and depression, should be recognized and addressed by the nursing home before the resident sustains serious weight loss. Weight loss in the elderly impairs the body’s ability to fight infection and repair injuries.
The attorneys at Raymond & Raymond, Ltd. have successfully represented residents and their families in many nursing home neglect lawsuits.
Call us for a free, no obligation consultation at (800) 331-5753.