To view this, you need to install the Flash Player 5. Please go to here and download it.
Shockingly, elder abuse – and nursing home abuse in particular – is quite common here in the United States. When nursing homes employ reckless and negligent staff, or when they take on more patients than they can handle, their residents may suffer from neglect or abuse. In addition, many times they cannot or will not report such treatment to their families out of fear or lack of physical ability to do so.
Therefore, it is extremely important for you to take time and care when selecting a place of residence for your loved one. You should carefully check the reputations of the facilities in consideration. It is also suggested that you visit them and look around while you are there for signs of abuse among their current residents.
If you are placing a loved one in a nursing home facility, you should familiarize yourself with the following signs of mistreatment. Should you notice him or her exhibit any of these symptoms of neglect and abuse, you should report it right away:
- Unexplained injuries like bruises, cuts, burns, and bone fractures
- Being given too much or too little medication
- Unreasonable over-sedation
- Signs of being malnourished
- Not having been bathed in a while
- Infections
- Changes in behavior – wanting to be isolated or acting particularly aggressive
- Engaging in infantile behaviors, like rocking, sucking, and biting
Make sure that you keep these signs in mind every time you visit your loved one. A trustworthy facility can change in reliability due to staff turnover or a sudden and large influx of new patients.
If you believe that someone you love has been a victim of nursing home abuse, you may have the right to recover compensation from the responsible party. The St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers of Beltz & Ruth, P.A. can help you take legal action. To speak with us about your situation, contact our offices today at 800-235-8978.