Signs That a Patient Is Being Neglected in a Nursing Home

Nursing homes are tasked with keeping our loved ones safe, happy, and healthy. Unfortunately, nursing home neglect and abuse can and do happen.

You need to be on the lookout for signs of neglect (which can include emotional neglect) when visiting someone in a nursing home. You may have legal options if your loved one has been a victim of abuse or mistreatment at the hands of staff members. Contact our team at Munley Law for a free consultation on nursing home neglect and abuse cases.

Physical Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

Many signs of nursing home neglect manifest in someone’s physical condition. Consider these examples:

• Unexplained weight loss: Significant weight loss could indicate a nursing home resident isn’t being fed properly.
• Dehydration symptoms: Warning signs of dehydration in nursing home residents include confusion, difficulty walking, fatigue, dry skin, and dark urine.
• Poor personal hygiene: If a nursing home resident isn’t maintaining hygiene appropriately, their poor hygiene may indicate nursing home abuse or neglect.
• Untreated bed sores: A nursing home resident with untreated bed sores (also known as pressure sores or pressure ulcers) is frequently a sign of neglect.
• Medication errors: An elderly person may be at risk of significant health complications if staff members don’t provide them with necessary medication or if other such medication errors occur.

Be aware that these problems aren’t uncommon. Research indicates that one in 10 adults over the age of 60 in the US will experience some form of elder abuse every year. Identifying the physical signs of nursing home abuse and neglect can help you ensure a loved one isn’t a victim. If you notice these warning signs, contact Munley Law immediately for a free consultation to protect your loved one.

Environmental Red Flags of Patient Neglect

The conditions of nursing home facilities can help you better determine if nursing home neglect is likely to occur at a particular establishment. Environmental issues to be on the lookout for include:

• Unsanitary living conditions: When nursing home staff members fail to maintain clean and sanitary environments, residents may be at risk of health complications.
• Lack of basic necessities: A nursing home should provide for the basic needs of its residents. Monitor for lack of any basic necessities that could give you a reason to suspect nursing home neglect.
• Safety hazards in rooms: Nursing home residents with limited mobility and cognitive impairments face serious hazards in their rooms, including exposed electrical cords, unstable furniture, malfunctioning bed rails, and unreachable call lights. When staff fails to conduct proper safety checks and maintenance, residents risk falls, entanglement injuries, burns, and delayed emergency assistance.
• Inadequate temperature control: Poor temperature control doesn’t just result in discomfort for nursing home residents. It can also cause health problems.
• Missing personal items: There are many potential explanations for missing personal items when visiting nursing home residents. In some cases, staff members may be stealing from residents, or they aren’t taking proper steps to safeguard their belongings.

Don’t let your loved one suffer in unsafe conditions. Let Munley Law investigate your concerns today.

Behavioral Changes That Signal Neglect

Nursing home neglect or abuse can affect someone’s emotional and mental health in a way that manifests in such behavioral changes as:

• Sudden withdrawal: Someone who was once friendly with guests and other residents may withdraw as a result of abuse or neglect.
• Unusual sleep patterns: The mental health issues a resident develops as a result of the abuse they experience can interfere with their sleep schedule.
• Signs of depression: Common signs of depression among victims of nursing home abuse include general changes in mood, appetite changes, and loss of interest in activities or topics one used to find interesting.
• Unexplained agitation: A resident may become more easily agitated if they’re being abused.
• Changes in cognitive function: Memory issues and other such problems may be signs of abuse or neglect.

Trust your instincts. Speak with a Munley Law nursing home abuse attorney about your loved one’s behavioral changes.

Staff Behavior Warning Signs

Pay attention to the behavior of staff members when visiting nursing homes. Red flags of neglect or abuse include:

• Insufficient supervision: A common form of nursing home neglect is a lack of supervision for nursing home patients.
• Delayed response to calls: If nursing homes take a long time to respond to calls and other such inquiries, it might indicate a staffing problem.
• Poor communication with family: Insufficient communication with family members is another potential sign a nursing home lacks the staff necessary to serve its patients’ needs.
• High staff turnover: High staff turnover is a warning sign in any workplace.
• Restricted family visits: A nursing home’s owners or managers might be trying to hide something if they place unusual restrictions on when family members can visit.

Our experienced attorneys can help you document staff negligence. Contact Munley Law now.

Medical Neglect Indicators

Signs of medical neglect in nursing homes include:

• Missed medical appointments: Staff members might fail to help residents attend necessary medical appointments.
• Untreated health conditions: Untreated illnesses and physical injuries often indicate staff members are neglecting residents.
• Medication mismanagement: Again, medication issues can put elderly residents at risk.
• Lack of mobility assistance: Neglect can occur when a nursing home patient with mobility issues doesn’t receive the assistance they need.
• Poor wound care: A resident may be suffering neglect if they have any wounds or injuries that haven’t received proper attention.

Let Munley Law review your loved one’s medical records for signs of neglect. Schedule your free case evaluation.

Taking Action Against Nursing Home Neglect

If you suspect abuse and plan to take legal action against a nursing home facility, you should understand:

• Documenting evidence: Saving evidence will help you build a case proving abuse or neglect in the nursing home environment.
• Reporting procedures: Check with local law enforcement to learn the procedures for reporting nursing home abuse. Other options for reporting nursing home abuse include contacting adult protective services and the licensing agency for nursing homes in your state.
• Legal time limits: Check state laws to find out if any deadlines apply when suing a nursing home. For example, in Pennsylvania, you have two years from when the abuse occurred to file a lawsuit in most cases.
• Family rights: Various laws (such as Pennsylvania’s law) establish the legal rights of nursing home residents. Speak with nursing home lawyers about the rights of family members in these circumstances.
• Available remedies: Alerting the authorities when you notice warning signs can prevent further elder abuse at a nursing home facility. Family members of someone who was abused or neglected in a nursing home could also help them file a claim or lawsuit seeking justice.

 Don’t wait until it’s too late. Let the compassionate nursing home abuse attorneys at Munley Law help you protect your loved one’s rights today.