Personal Injury Attorney
Relatives of a senior loved one may at one point realize that placing him or her into a nursing home facility is the only way to provide around-the-clock care. Not all families have the time and space to tend to an aging loved one to the extent that he or she needs. Before placing a relative into a nursing home, perform thorough research on a prospective facility and any past lawsuits. It is estimated that one in every three nursing home facilities have had infractions related to abuse or neglect. There is a chance that your senior relative is at-risk for suffering from mistreatment.
If you suspect that abuse or neglect has happened to your senior relative who is currently in a nursing home, please contact an attorney immediately. When concerned family members meet with us, one of their first questions is how to tell if mistreatment is actually happening. This is what physical and mental abuse in a nursing home may look like:
Unexplained and Mysterious Marks
When visiting your loved one, we encourage family members to examine their senior relative as long as he or she is comfortable. Areas where abuse is more likely to be inflicted are those not readily visible, such as the back, feet, upper thighs, abdomen and underarms. Your relative may have wounds from overuse of restraints, bruises from assault, or other marks that go unexplained. If you inquire with staff about how these marks happened and no one can provide an answer (including your loved one), it may be time to call an attorney for help.
Appearing Unkempt and Malnourished
Staff members who become frustrated with senior residents, may intentionally fail to provide three meals a day, administer necessary medications, offer vitamins, and anything else related to health. Additionally, caregivers may leave a resident with dirty blankets or soiled clothing for an extended period of time.
In some cases, a resident that was diagnosed with a certain illness may have symptoms related to appearing weak or losing weight. However, if this is not true for your relative then please consider investigating further. An attorney can offer advice on how to do this in such a way that is discreet, yet preparing for a lawsuit if needed.
Behavior and Mood Changes
If your loved one showed up to a nursing home in relatively positive spirits and has since become withdrawn, frightened, anxious, depressed, or on-edge, do not take these changes lightly. Keep in mind that many senior loved ones may go through difficulties while transitioning into a nursing home environment. But, it is important to make sure he or she is receiving support and that abuse or neglect is not actually the root cause of personality changes.
If any of this information applies to your elderly loved one’s situation, please call for a consultation with a personal injury lawyer offers. They can understand that this may seem like an overwhelming process, but can guide you every step of the way as you seek justice for your relative.
