What is Nursing Home Neglect?
Nursing home neglect is when patients do not receive adequate mental and physical care. Even though it may not be intentional, it is still dangerous. The health risks can be serious and should not be taken lightly. Continue reading to learn more. Causes of Nursing Home Neglect There are many reasons, both intentional and unintentional, as to why this type of neglect occurs. Either way, both are forms of elder abuse. In most cases, negligence is unintentional. Short staffing, inadequate training, and high turnover rates are common unintended causes of neglect. Employees of care centers generally want to provide proper care, but in some cases, it accidentally falls through the cracks. In rare cases, mistreatment can be intentional. Due to apathy or a more sinister reason, patients may receive substandard care. Either way, every case needs to be reported to the proper authorities. According to Nursing Home Abuse Justice, an estimated 5,000,000 people are affected by elder abuse every single year. Common Signs of Nursing Home Neglect To evaluate a nursing home’s quality of care, look for red flags that may indicate a problem. While one of these signs may not point to a pattern of neglect, seeing multiple may be cause for concern. Poor Personal Hygiene – Nursing homes help their patients with basic personal hygiene. Workers assist patients with a variety of hygienic tasks such as brushing their teeth, bathing, clipping their nails, and changing their clothes. A frequent lack of acceptable hygiene may point to neglect. Unsanitary Living Conditions – Clean and sanitary living conditions are a necessary aspect of proper care. Fresh bedding, clean bathrooms, and tidy rooms are essential aspects of adequate living conditions. If surroundings are frequently unsanitary, this may be a sign of elder abuse. Malnutrition – Nursing homes are required to provide proper nutrition to all of their patients. Mistreatment in this area can result in patient malnutrition and dehydration. When visiting a loved one, make sure that healthy foods are being served and that they are well hydrated. If not, consider this a red flag. Unexplained Injuries- Fractures, lacerations, bumps, and bruises point to potential physical abuse. If you notice any unexplained injuries on your loved one, this may be a sign of physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, and pushing. Consequences of Elder Abuse Failing to provide adequate care to patients can result in many penalties for the care center. If a single employee is neglecting patients, they can be punished or even terminated. If the neglect becomes habitual, the care center can receive civil or even criminal charges. Individuals and care centers can also receive financial penalties and may even be denied the ability to work with the elderly in the future. If Your Loved One Has Suffered Abuse, Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton Can Help If you suspect that your loved one is a victim of nursing home neglect, Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton is here to help you fight for the care they deserve. We strive to ensure that negligent nursing homes are held accountable for any degree of abuse or neglect. We have offices throughout Utah County and West Jordan, Utah. Schedule your free case evaluation today.
How Does Nursing Home Operate?
A nursing home might be the best option for older adults who require round-the-clock medical care and supervision. They offer a range of medical, personal, and social services to meet the needs of those who are disabled or chronically ill. Learn more about the care that these nursing homes provide. The Care Nursing Homes Offer A nursing home offers the most holistic care a person can receive outside of a hospital. Staff provide custodial care, such as bathing, feeding, and help older adults get dressed. Moreover, some offer skilled care, which is when a registered nurse cares for residents, provides medical monitoring, and administers medication. Some skilled care nurses also specialize in other areas and can double as a physical, occupational, or respiratory therapist. Discover what to look for in a nursing home in today’s blog. What Services Do These Homes Provide? The services that care centers offer, vary, but they often include: Monitoring of medication Room and board Personal care, including bathing, toilet assistance, and dressing 24-hour emergency services Recreational and social activities What Should I Look for in a Nursing Home? Review our checklist to make an informed decision in helping your parents or grandparents find the right nursing home. General Care Center Questions: Does this facility meet local and state licensing requirements? Do they provide the level of care that your loved one needs? Does the home’s administrator have an up-to-date license? Does the facility meet state fire regulations? These include well-maintained sprinkler systems, fire-resistant doors, and evacuation plans for residents and staff. What is their policy on insurance and personal property? What are their visiting hours? How do caregivers respond to medical emergencies? Do they follow a procedure? Admission Questions: What are their admission requirements? How soon will you know if your loved one is accepted? Will you receive a notification if your loved one isn’t accepted? Needs Assessment: How do they assess a prospective resident’s need for services, such as specialized care? Are their needs reassessed biannually? Does each resident have an individual, written care plan? Financing and Fees: Have the facility’s fees increased drastically in the past few years? Are their fees competitive? What are their billing, credit, and payment policies? Is their fee structure easy to follow? Are there varying costs for different services? Do they show which services insurance covers in the quoted fee and which ones cost more? Are the accounting and billing procedures understandable? How soon can a resident terminate a contract? Will they be eligible for a refund? Which governmental financing options do they accept? These include Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, and Supplemental Security Income. Caregiver Qualifications: Do social workers, nurses, and administrators have geriatric care experience or education? Are they able to meet scheduled and unscheduled needs? Do they treat residents as individuals and respect their needs, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach? Do they genuinely care about residents and enjoy serving them? Are they readily available to assist residents with memory, judgment, or orientation loss? Do doctors and nurses regularly visit to provide residents with medical checkups? Do residents look comfortable and happy? What do residents, their loved ones, and volunteers say about the nursing home? Are residents clean and appropriately dressed? Are there flyers posted that list residents’ rights? Are There Red Flags to Watch out For? The U.S. Government Accountability Office reports that one-quarter of all nursing homes are understaffed, have unqualified caregivers, and are profit-focused. Negligent staff can harm residents and put them at risk for severe injuries or death. Don’t ignore the following four red flags. Injuries: Although the elderly are susceptible to falls, you should investigate frequent injuries. Poor hygiene: This can enable germs and bacteria, wreaking havoc on a resident’s health. Disorientation: If your loved one is always “out of it” when you see them, there may be a serious problem behind closed doors. Financial abuse: If you notice money disappearing from your loved one’s savings, a staff member may be financially exploiting them. Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton Can Help Unfortunately, nursing home abuse often goes undetected because many families falsely believe their loved one is in good hands. If you suspect your loved one is a victim of abuse, Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton can help you hold a negligent nursing home accountable. Our experienced personal injury attorneys fight for victims and their families to receive not only fair compensation but also respect and kindness. We have offices throughout Utah County and West Jordan. Schedule your free case evaluation today.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect: Legal Options for Seniors
We expect elderly loved ones in nursing homes to be properly looked after and cared for. Sadly, instances of nursing home abuse may occur at even expensive assisted living facilities in the greater Provo, UT area. The abuse can also take many different forms. The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton would like to discuss some common types of nursing home abuse. We’ll also note some important warning signs to consider that can protect your loved one from further harm. Physical Abuse at Nursing Homes Physical abuse is what many people think of when they think of abuse at nursing homes. This can take many forms, from overt beatings or acts of violence against a senior citizen. This could also involve restraining a person for a long amount of time. Neglect of an Elderly Person In addition to physical abuse, there’s also the issue of neglect. This could mean refusing to change a bedpan, not assisting the elderly person with basic hygiene, or refusing to move the patient to help prevent bedsores. Refusing to change linens or help with laundry can also be classified under neglect. Emotional and Psychological Abuse Sometimes the people who work at nursing homes will inflict emotional and psychological abuse on elderly residents. These might be threats or insults. In especially cruel cases, they may mentally abuse an elderly person who is in a distressed state or diminished state due to an age-related condition. Withholding Food, Water, or Medication People in an assisted living facility rely on workers to help with nourishment and medication. Sometimes the abuse inflicted on the elderly individual involves depriving them of food and water. This might also include depriving the person of their daily medication. Sexual Abuse of the Elderly Senior citizens at nursing homes are sometimes sexually abused, sexually assaulted, and raped by people who are supposed to care for them. These acts of violence and battery are especially tragic given how vulnerable elderly individuals are. Financial Abuse at Nursing Homes In addition the above forms of abuse, elderly people at a nursing home might be taken advantage of financially. Workers at nursing homes may convince senior citizens to hand over credit card or bank account information, resulting in any number of crimes involving money or other financial holdings. Warning Signs of Elder Abuse There are some telltale signs that a person in a nursing home has been the victim of abuse. Keep an eye out for the following: Unexplained bruises or cuts Serious injuries between visits Disheveled appearance Acting withdrawn or frightened Depression Changes in weight Sudden changes in behavior If you notice any of these warning signs and suspect abuse, be sure to remove your loved one from the nursing home. Contact authorities to have the nursing home investigated as soon as possible and reach out to attorneys to learn about your legal options. Learn More About Your Legal Options If you or someone you care about has experienced abuse in an assisted living facility, be sure to contact our team of elder abuse attorneys today. The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton are here to help you in your time of legal need.