April 20, 2022 | General

When our elderly loved ones require more specialized or involving care than we can provide, we entrust them to nursing homes. We believe that nursing homes are better equipped to meet the needs of our loved ones and this is often the case. However, there are instances when nursing homes fail to meet the standard of care expected of them. When this happens, you may be eligible to file a claim for nursing home neglect.

What is Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home neglect occurs when nursing homes fail to exercise proper care for those placed under their charge.  It is when a nursing home fails to meet their resident’s basic needs including failure to provide food, water, clothing, shelter, hygiene as well as essential medical care. Negligence by a nursing home can result in serious mental and physical health conditions.

Nursing home neglect can take various forms. Some of the most common types of neglect include:

• Medical neglect

This occurs when nursing home employees fail to meet the health care needs of their residents. This type of neglect may include failing to administer medications when needed, not moving immobile residents regularly and putting them at risk of developing bedsores, not providing the right medical care for existing medical conditions such as diabetes and not reporting medical conditions to medical professionals such as doctors or nurses.

• Emotional or social neglect

Nursing homes are required to meet the social and emotional needs of their seniors. For example, they should provide opportunities for residents to interact with other residents or their families and friends. This will go a long way to improve the resident’s mood and mental health. Emotional or social neglect in a nursing home may involve intentionally or accidentally isolating vulnerable residents, forgetting to move residents with mental or mobility issues and failing to provide residents with mobility problems with walkers, wheelchairs or canes.

• Neglect of personal hygiene

This occurs when nursing home employees neglect the personal hygiene of the residents. This affects the health and appearance of the resident. It may even result in life-threatening conditions such as when the resident contracts an infection. Negligence of personal hygiene may include not checking on residents regularly, not changing their clothes or beddings regularly or not properly bathing seniors that are unable to clean themselves.

• Neglect of basic living needs

This occurs when nursing homes fail to provide basic amenities for their residents and to ensure a safe environment for its residents. It may include failing to maintain a comfortable temperature for residents within the home, not providing residents with adequate water or food or not cleaning the nursing home or the resident’s rooms regularly.

Nursing Home Neglect versus Nursing Home Abuse

Many people use the terms nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect interchangeably. However, nursing home abuse and neglect are distinct as defined by the law. Nursing home abuse is defined as the intentional infliction of physical harm or mental anguish to a nursing home resident. Nursing home abuse may include verbal abuse, sexual abuse, shaking, threats, corporal punishment or financial abuse. Nursing home abuse always involves intentional acts.

Nursing home neglect involves failure to provide the residents of a nursing home with a reasonable standard of care. Unlike abuse, neglect can be unintentional. However, like abuse, neglect can result in harm to the resident. It is therefore just as serious as nursing home abuse.

What are the Signs of Nursing Home Neglect?

Many elderly people that suffer from nursing home neglect often don’t report it to their loved ones. Some are unable to report it while others are threatened and intimidated by nursing home staff into keeping silent about neglect. It is therefore important to be able to recognize the symptoms of nursing home neglect.

Some common signs of nursing home neglect include:

• The development of bedsores
• Dehydration
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Bruises
• Issues reflecting poor personal hygiene such as bodily odor
• Malnutrition
• Sudden changes in the personality or behavior of the resident. This may include withdrawal from activities, self-harm, anxiety, fits of rage, lack of interest in what they previously enjoyed as well as depression.
• Wounds and cuts

If you notice any signs of potential neglect, it is important that you take the necessary steps to protect your loved one from further harm. Make arrangements to have your loved one removed from the harmful environment. This may mean moving your loved one to another nursing home. You should also get in touch with the department of health in your state. Report your concerns to the department of health.

It is critical that you get in touch with a qualified and experienced attorney. Your attorney will investigate your nursing home negligence claims and determine whether you have a legitimate claim or not. Get in touch with us to consult with an experienced and knowledgeable attorney. We will help you pursue financial compensation for nursing home neglect and hold those that have caused your loved one harm to account.

Nursing Home Neglect Nebraska