Sending a loved one to a nursing home for long term care is a difficult decision when their care is beyond what you can handle at home. Friends and colleagues often try to give advice and tell tales of Nursing Home Abuse happening at certain facilities and all too often, the people living in those facilities do not have the mental faculties to defend themselves against neglect and abuse. The most common issues and injuries in nursing homes occur due to simple neglect of the patients by nursing home staff. Many nursing homes have a large number or residents and due to shortage of staff because of budget cuts or lack of training and experience on the part of workers patients can be at risk for falls, bed-related strangulation, bed sores, and even malnutrition and dehydration. When visiting a potential nursing home for a loved one or visiting a friend or relative in their nursing home it is vitally important to look for signs of abuse and neglect. Poor hygiene, strange bruises or cuts, losing hair, personal items, emotional isolation, and torn clothes or bedding can all be signs of abuse and once these signs are recognized legal action may, and often times should, be taken to protect the rights of your loved one.
If you do witness signs of abuse at the nursing home, the first course of action is to address the problem with the management of the facility. It is advised that you take notes of the dates, times, and staff involved in the suspected abuse and take the evidence to the management. If they do not address the issue or make a final decision contacting a legal representative is the next step. Those who suffer from neglect from falls that result in a Brain Injury Attorney who is familiar or specializes in this type of injury should be contacted. The same can be said for any type of neglect of abuse when searching for an attorney. Finding one who has dealt with similar cases can help you to get the best treatment for your loved one and help others in the same nursing home facility that may be facing abuse.
