What Are the Common Types of Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing homes often present themselves as bright, cheery places, but many have a dark and seedy underbelly. Instead of caring for residents, some nursing home care staff subject the residents to neglect and abuse.

If you suspect that such a facility is neglecting your cherished senior, here’s what to know from a nursing care home abuse attorney.

Examples of Nursing Home Neglect

There are many types of nursing home neglect, the outcome of which can be loneliness, poor health, medical emergencies,  and even death. 

Basic Needs Neglect

Nursing homes are supposed to provide residents with a healthy diet and help them bathe, groom, and use the restroom. Some, however, provide nutritionally less than optimum meals or don’t bother feeding residents at all. Bad-apple caregivers may ignore calls for help with using the toilet and leave residents sitting in soiled clothes.

Medical Neglect

Medical neglect is extremely serious, as it can sicken and even kill residents. For instance, if staff ignore an infection for too long, it can turn into sepsis, which is deadly if not immediately treated.

Medication errors, which include giving the wrong dose, administering medication at the wrong time, providing the wrong type of medication, and skipping doses, also fall under medical neglect.

Social Neglect

Nursing homes should provide residents ample opportunities to socialize, but not all do. Some staff leave residents alone for long periods or refuse to let them see visitors.

If you suspect social neglect, contact a nursing care home abuse attorney who can serve as an advocate for victims of nursing home abuse.

Abandonment

Abandonment is one of the worst things nursing homes can do to vulnerable seniors, and it’s more common than you might think. One Los Angeles nursing home kicked out a man with dementia and left him at a boarding house without informing his loved ones. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were reports of nursing home staff abandoning entire facilities and leaving residents to fend for themselves.

Causes of Nursing Home Neglect

You may wonder why anyone would neglect the frail and elderly residents of nursing homes. Possibilities include:

• Financial issues: Some nursing homes are in dire financial straits, causing them to cut expenses down to the bone.
• Poor training: Nursing home staff must undergo rigorous training to learn how to care for residents, but some facilities are too busy to bother.
• Understaffing: Many nursing homes can’t afford to pay staff what they’re worth, so they leave for greener pastures.
• Negligent hiring practices: Nursing homes must conduct background checks to ensure employees haven’t abused or neglected others. Some facilities skimp on background checks, allowing bad employees to slip through the cracks.

Signs of Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

Nursing home neglect isn’t always easy to recognize. Look for these signs:

• The resident seems depressed or withdrawn.
• They appear to be agitated or anxious.
• They seem fearful, particularly of specific staff members.
• They stop doing their favorite activities.
• They lose or gain too much weight.
• Their clothes, body, and hair are dirty.
• They have unexplained injuries, such as open wounds.

Is your loved one exhibiting any of these signs? Call us to seek legal counsel for elder mistreatment.

Experienced Legal Representation for Elder Abuse

If you suspect that your senior loved one is suffering from neglect, reach out to a nursing home abuse lawyer. An attorney for nursing home neglect will seek justice for your vulnerable elder and fight aggressively to win compensation for their neglect.

Call Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C., at (800) 433-2408 to speak with a nursing care home abuse attorney.