Nursing homes in Florida routinely charge almost $100,000 a year for a private room, so families are justified in expecting their loved ones to receive too-notch care 24 hours a day. Unfortunately, some nursing homes are understaffed or full of incompetent workers, and residents suffer the consequences.
At Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein, our personal injury lawyers have helped many people when a family member is injured in a nursing home. Below, we highlight some of the leading signs of nursing home neglect. Reach out to a member of our team if you suspect your loved one is being neglected.
Poor Hygiene
When you visit a loved one in a nursing home, check their hygiene. Is their hair washed and combed? Have their teeth been brushed? Are there odd odors in the room? Are they wearing clean clothes? When staff has been neglectful, then residents can become dirty and smelly since many are unable to bathe on their own.
Sudden Weight Loss
A resident who is being ignored might miss meals, which can lead to inexplicable weight loss. Ask the staff if your loved one has been sick. If not, they might not be getting fed enough. Be sure to visit the nursing home during mealtime, at least once, so you can watch whether your loved one is being fed.
Illness
Negligent staff might forget to give your loved one their medicines, which can quickly lead to illness or even a medical catastrophe like a stroke or heart attack. You should request proof that your loved one has been given their meds. Typically, nursing homes keep detailed records of when medicines are dispensed.
Broken Bones & Bruises
A neglected resident might wander away from the nursing home and get injured in a fall. Any soft-tissue injury or broken bone is suspicious, and you should ask how it happened. Also, negligent nursing homes might fail to protect your loved one from another resident who attacks them, which can also lead to traumatic injuries.
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
When a loved one is abused, they might refuse to tell anyone out of fear. However, some residents are more vocal when it comes to being neglected. You can ask your loved one if the staff is taking care of their daily needs. If not, complain to management.
Nursing homes and assisted living centers can be great places for elderly people to live in when they are no longer capable of living alone, able to care for themselves or become ill. However, nursing home and assisted living residents are at risk for abuse and neglect, which can result in an untimely death. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities have a duty to provide their patients with the highest level of care possible to help them to retain their physical, mental and psychosocial well-being.
The Impact of Nursing Home Misconduct
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, senior citizens who live in nursing homes and are abused are 300 times more likely to die than elderly residents who have not been mistreated. This same study also reports that 95 percent of seniors living in nursing homes have either been victims of neglect or have seen their peers mistreated.
Statistic Brain Research Institute reports that over 2.1 million seniors are abused each year. Approximately 58.5 percent of those cases are neglect victims. They also state that 36 percent of nursing homes are in violation of elderly abuse laws, and that 91 percent of assisted living facilities do not have enough staff to accommodate their residents.
Nursing home neglect and abuse is preventable. Loved ones of seniors who live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities should pay close attention to their relatives for signs of neglect, distress and changes in health. When nursing homes are not adequately staffed, equipped and their workers lack proper training and credentials, nursing home abuse, neglect and wrongful death can occur.
Speak with a Miami Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer Now
You do not have to sit silently while someone you care about suffers injury due to neglect. At Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein, we have sued many nursing homes for preventable injuries, and we can help you with your claim. Call us today at 305-371-2692 to schedule a free consultation.