Common Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Many organizations combine nursing home abuse and neglect into a single category, and oftentimes an incident involving one can also involve the other. However, nursing home neglect is different than abuse and involves some level of negligence or substandard care that results in harm to an elderly patient. There are many types of nursing home neglect and signs of neglect that family members should look for when their loved one is in a nursing home facility.
Types of Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect can manifest itself in a variety of different ways, but the four most common types of neglect include the following:
Emotional or social neglect:
This type of neglect occurs when a resident in a nursing home is repeatedly ignored, left alone, or emotionally lashed out at by the nursing home staff.
Personal hygiene neglect:
This type of neglect occurs when patients in the nursing home do not receive the aid that they need with personal hygiene issues like laundry, cleaning, bathing, brushing their teeth, combing their hair, or other basic forms of hygiene.
Basic needs neglect:
This type of neglect occurs when the nursing home does not provide the basic necessities of care to their residents like clean water, food, or a safe environment.
Medical neglect:
This type of neglect occurs when the staff at the nursing home fails to provide the patients with enough medical attention, prevention, or medication that they need for their illnesses. It can lead to complications with such things like bed sores, diabetes, infections, cuts, and mobility.
Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Unlike the more obvious signs of nursing home abuse, nursing home neglect can be more difficult to identify as many forms of neglect do not leave physical marks. It can be even more difficult if the family members of a resident do not live close or if the resident has problems communicating. As a result, it is incredibly important for the loved ones of a nursing home resident to stay vigilant for the signs of potential nursing home neglect.
Some of the more common signs of nursing home neglect include:
- Sudden, significant weight loss;
- Bed sores or pressure sores;
- Injuries from falls;
- Dehydration;
- Malnutrition;
- Withdrawn or unusual changes in behavior;
- Changes in personal hygiene or appearance;
- Lack of friendly interaction with nursing home staff;
- Lack of friendly interaction with nursing home residents;
- Environmental hazards in the facility like poor lighting, slippery floors, unsafe equipment, or unsafe furniture;
…and other changes in appearance, health, behavior, or facilities that could be signs of nursing home neglect.
Contact a Florida Nursing Home Neglect Attorney
There is absolutely no good reason for your elderly loved one to be neglected when they are a resident in a nursing home. If you suspect that your loved one has been subject to nursing home neglect in the West Palm Beach area, the experienced nursing home neglect attorneys at Gary Roberts & Associates are here to help. Call the office or contact us today for a free and confidential review of your claims.
