Taking Disciplinary Actions in Nursing Home Abuse Cases
Families turn to nursing homes to give the elderly the care and attention they need, but an increasing number of cases come reporting different kinds of abuse.
The abuses range from physical, sexual, verbal. And are on the rise. Reports often come of serious incidents that had either put residents at significant risk of harm, injured them or even killed them. Investigations show many violations are neither detected nor reported, leading officials to believe the problem is underestimated.
Nursing home abuse takes many forms, but all of them are injurious be it emotionally, physically, or financially.But, sometimes the worst cases of nursing home abuse and neglect happen at facilities that apparently look clean, professional, and well run. Often, management is aware that a problem exists.
Reasons Behind…
Nursing home workers are too often low-paid, overworked, and poorly trained. Sometimes the problem occurs when a nursing home owner tries to cut costs by escaping training / trained staff. The population of nursing home residents is not restricted to elderly individuals, but may also include many younger people who are in rehabilitation or are disabled. With a range of ages, physical and mental health needs and interests, nursing homes are a place of diversity. This could create some risk factors on their own.
For example, elderly residents and younger residents have very different needs. Elderly inmates require a great deal of specialized medical care and supervision. Younger patients may want more attention to socialization or behavior.
If nursing homes are not adequately screwed and trained, it may be impossible for all age and need levels to get the care they require. Most nursing homes are geared toward older adults, their interests, and demands. This can lead to younger residents feeling resentful, restless, or lonely. These emotions coupled with a physical or mental disability can easily result in negative attitudes and behavior. These are obvious risk factors for substance abuse.
The other problem is, often the old ones are either unable or in some cases unwilling to complain. Understanding the types of nursing home abuse may go a long way to prevent, or at least protect your loved ones from serious consequences.
Indifference / Neglect
One of the most common forms of nursing home abuse today is negligence. And this is something that is too frequently overlooked. The results may end in a diminishing health condition and even the death of our loved ones. The problem can occur anywhere and can take many shapes. What makes this particularly sinister is, it can be overlooked or ignored for an extensive period of time. Even with your repeated visits to a nursing home, you may not be able to detect the neglect signs.
The symptoms of nursing home neglect could bring an elevated risk of some diseases or ailments like declining physical state, bedsores, etc. to name a few. Neglect may also include denying food, water, and medication as well as failure to change bedding or take care of hygiene needs.
Abuse
There are certain visible signs that your elderly parent or a loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse. Remember, such an abuse/ neglect is not always physical. It can take the form of verbal intimidation or forced isolation which is equally unacceptable.
Physical abuse can be as extreme as assault, rape. It may also be of forced restraint, either by mechanical or chemical means (such as administration of psycho-pharmaceutical drugs not authorized by a doctor).
Emotional abuse may include insults, humiliation, threats, threats, isolation, ignorance and disregard.
Some Common Signs Of Nursing Home Neglect / Abuse
Pronounced Signs
- Unusual bruises/ bleeding
- Open wounds, bed sores or cuts
- Burns, abrasions
- Sudden /unexplained change in weight
- Soiling, poor hygiene, smell of urine or feces
- Infections
- Loss of hair
- Torn, stained, or bloody clothing or bedding
Less Pronounced Signs
- Withdrawn or unresponsiveness (physical/mental or both)
- Childishness or other strange behavior
- Disappearance of personal items
- Sudden and unusual financial transactions
- Staff refusing/ delaying access to your resident
What To Do
Notify the management immediately. But if you are not satisfied, you have the right to file a legal complaint with an appropriate agency.You are strongly recommended to contact a nursing home neglect lawyer or nursing home abuse attorney.
It is challenging to prove what goes on behind the closed doors of a nursing home where you have kept your loved one for treatment. It is essential that you obtain a skilled, experienced, nursing home abuse lawyer.
You may have questions about how these cases work. There is no consultation fee if you contact an Oklahoma City nursing home abuse attorney at Burton Law Group.
The firm’s nursing home neglect lawyers have years of experience in handling such cases of nursing home abuse. An experienced lawyer will be glad to answer any questions you may have. Before meeting you, they do the needed research on the history of the nursing home or facility involved to understand its record and performance.