People who are living in nursing homes expect that they will receive proper care. They don’t expect to be subjected to neglect or abuse by the people who are supposed to care for them. Unfortunately, neglect and abuse are possible in these situations.
While most people think nursing home abuse and neglect would be easy to spot, this isn’t always the case. Some forms of abuse and neglect don’t come with symptoms, such as bruising, that you can readily see. Some signs you should watch for include:
Resident is withdrawn or isolated
Residents may seem withdrawn or isolated because the staff member abusing them may have them concerned about speaking to anyone. The staff member may monitor or hover around them to ensure they’re not speaking out about what’s happening.
Resident appears unkempt
Getting necessary assistance with personal hygiene and getting dressed. They should have on clothing that’s appropriate for the temperatures. Failing to help residents with this type of self-care could signal a bigger issue with the nursing home.
Resident is malnourished or dehydrated
Nursing home staff members should watch the residents to ensure they’re eating and drinking. While a one-off issue with this isn’t cause for alarm, consistently having this problem is a sign that something serious is going on.
Anyone injured because of nursing home neglect or abuse should ensure they get the necessary medical care. They may choose to seek compensation for the injuries they’re dealing with. State law has time limits for these cases, so be sure you don’t waste time getting your case moving forward.