In America, today, it is estimated that negligence accounts for nearly 50% of nursing home abuse cases. The misery, personal indignity, preventable decline in health, and premature death caused by nursing home negligence is truly a national tragedy. Neglect occurs when a caregiver does not provide life’s basic essentials, such as adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, medicine, and personal safety. This can also include failing to provide immobile nursing home patients with proper personal hygiene, or failing to assist a disabled nursing home resident to the bathroom or to bathe. Failing to provide an elderly resident with a required special diet, not assisting a resident during mealtime when they require assistance, or not contacting the resident’s physician when necessary can also constitute negligence.
Other examples of nursing home neglect include isolation, abandonment and social exclusion. These situations not only place residents unattended, but can cause extreme emotional distress, which often leads to an overall decline of the individual.
Some additional signs that a nursing home resident may be a victim of negligence include:
· Bed sores (pressure sores or decubitus ulcers)-
Adequate staffing, proper nutrition and hygiene, time and effort are necessary factors in the prevention of pressure sores in immobile patients.
· Malnutrition and dehydration –
Malnutrition among nursing home residents is not uncommon. Many elderly patients need assistance while eating, or have physical conditions that hinder appetite, swallowing and chewing. Residents with restricted mobility must have water easily accessible to them.
· Untreated health problems –
Physical and emotional health problems that are left untreated can cause nursing home residents serious harm. For example, untreated bedsores can quickly destroy tissue and depression can lead to loss of appetite.
· Unsafe or unsanitary environment –
Faulty equipment, such as wheel chairs with non-functioning brakes, or bed rails that do not function properly can be a hazard. Soiled bedding can lead to pressure sores and other skin problems. Rodent or insect infestations in a nursing home facility can quickly spread diseases.
· Insufficient supervision –
Nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s or who are on medications that might cause confusion should not be allowed to wander outside of the facility unsupervised.
Most certainly, any report by an Arizona nursing home resident that negligence has occurred should be taken seriously and investigated. In all cases of negligence, the issue is not whether the neglect was intentional, but whether your loved one’s health or safety was compromised. If you suspect your friend or relative is a victim of nursing home negligence or has died as a result of medical negligence in an Arizona nursing home or long-term facility, contact nursing home abuse and neglect attorney James Morgan at Young & Wallin today for a free consultation.
Our qualified team of Nursing Home Abuse lawyers is dedicated to pursuing justice for those injured in Arizona by nursing home negligence, abuse and medical misconduct. We are committed to helping prevent incidences of nursing home abuse and neglect by diligently defending the rights of our elders.
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