Yesterday, we told you more nursing home horror stories. (To read that blog, click here: More Nursing Home Tragedies.) These tragic tales always serve to highlight the importance of caring for those who are the most vulnerable…and preventing abuse whenever possible.
Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many different forms. If you have a loved one in a nursing home, here are some warning signs to watch for, courtesy of the Nursing Home Abuse Center:
Physical abuse can range from relatively mild to very extreme and can include assault, battery, and rape. Physical restraint, either by mechanical means or via the administration of drugs not authorized by a doctor, is abuse.
? bandages, bruising or bleeding
? open wounds, sores or cuts
? ligature marks around throat, mouth, wrists or ankles
? burns and abrasions
? sudden changes in weight
? soiling, poor hygiene, urine and feces odor
? additional or more serious infections
? hair loss
? torn, stained, or bloody clothing or bedding
? overall cleanliness of living quarters, and cleaning materials not put away
Emotional abuse is more difficult to spot, but this can be even more devastating. This includes: insults, humiliation, threats, and frightening the patient. Neglect can consist of withholding nourishment, water, medication, provision of personal hygiene, clean linen and preparing the bed daily.
? look for listlessness or unresponsiveness
? infantile or other strange behaviors
? physical or emotional withdrawal
? disappearance of personal items
? sudden and unusual financial transactions
? depression, or an unwillingness to open up and talk
If you notice any signs of abuse or neglect you need to alert authorities immediately. You are also urged to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer to discuss your legal options.
What to Do
At HensonFuerst Attorneys, we take our role as advocates for nursing home residents very seriously, and we will continue to protect their rights, to speak for people who have no voice. If you believe someone you know has been harmed by in a nursing home, please feel free to call us at 1-800-4-LAWMED. Someone is always available—24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can also learn more on our website at https://www.hensonfuerst.com/.
If you have questions, HensonFuerst has answers.
