Unfortunately, as our loved ones age, we face the difficult decision of whether it is time to move them into an assisted living facility. When elderly adults can no longer take care of themselves, many families decide to move them into nursing homes as these facilities provide long-term care. Although most families can entrust that the nursing home will provide their loved ones with a safe living environment, that is not always the case. Sadly, nursing home abuse and neglect are common. If you believe that your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, it is in your immediate interest to retain one of our skilled Prince George’s County Personal Injury Lawyers who can help you consider your legal options. Keep reading to learn about the most common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect to ensure the mistreatment of your loved one does not go unnoticed.
What is nursing home abuse and neglect?
When you move your loved one into an assisted living or rehabilitation facility, you are entrusting that the facility and its staff are upholding their legal obligation to provide their residents with a safe living environment. However, when the appropriate parties fail to uphold their legal duties, residents can suffer serious injuries and even death. Nursing home abuse occurs when a resident suffers physical, emotional, or psychological harm because of the intentional or negligent acts of the nursing home staff. Essentially, nursing home abuse and neglect occur when residents do not receive adequate care. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect often go unnoticed. Family and friends must look for signs of mistreatment to ensure their loved one is not being unfairly abused or neglected. The most common signs include:
- Unexplained injuries
- Bedsores
- Dehydration or malnutrition
- Emotionally withdrawn
- Sudden behavior changes
- Unsanitary living conditions
- Lack of hygiene
- Reluctance to speak in front of a caregiver
- Reluctance to be touched
- Non-communicative or isolated
- Failure to provide proper medications
- Unexplained death
There are several signs of nursing home abuse and neglect. Although some signs may not be apparent at first, it is critical to pay attention to any changes in behavior or personality. It is imperative to regularly visit your loved one to ensure you can detect any signs of mistreatment.
In most cases, those suffering abuse or neglect do not tell their family about the situation as they may fear retaliation from their caregivers. If you notice something is off with your elderly loved one, please contact one of our determined and trusted team members. Our firm can help you investigate and gather pertinent evidence to hold negligent parties accountable. Allow our firm to offer you individualized legal counseling today.
