No one wants to think about someone they love being abused or neglected when they are living in a senior’s home. In many cases, residents are treated well and enjoy a good quality of life. You should always be vigilant about being aware of the signs of senior home negligence and do not be quick to dismiss anything that comes to your attention. The indications that something is amiss are going to be subtle.
Signs of Senior Home Negligence to Watch Out For
- Falls
Frequent and/or serious falls can be a sign of negligence. Senior homes are responsible for developing a nursing care plan for each resident to help prevent falls. Even minor falls should be documented, since they can result in lasting injuries.
- Bruises
- If you see bruises on your loved one’s body, you should ask for answers about how they happened. This type of injury heals slowly in people who have poor circulation, and may occur during a fall or if a resident has been struck by another person or an object. Cuts and bruises should be examined by a doctor to determine their cause.
- Bedsores
Bedsores are also known as pressure sores. They are caused by a combination of poor nutrition and prolonged pressure when patients are allowed to lie unattended for long periods of time without changing position. They are very painful. In the initial state, bedsores look like red, inflamed areas on the skin. By the final state, if no action is taken, bedsores eat through the skin and muscle down to the bone. A person who is living in a senior home who is being properly cared for should not be left to suffer this type of neglect from an entirely preventable condition.
- Restraints
Senior homes can use both physical and chemical methods to retrain their residents. Devices, such as leg or arm restraint, hand mitts, cuffs, bed rails, wheelchair safety bars, and lap pills may be used to restrict a client’s movement. Some homes give doses of medication to make clients easier to manage, especially if the facility is understaffed.
If you have concerns about the quality of care your loved one has received which has resulted in an injury or a loss and you want to find out about your legal rights in the situation, contact Conte & Associates. We specialize in personal injury cases and we will be able to review your specific circumstance to offer you expert advice about the best way to proceed. You can call us or contact us through our online form.
