When a person gets older, they may develop health issues and become unable to care for themselves. Many families rely on nursing homes to provide the care their elder love one requires. While there are many excellent long-term care facilities for the elderly, with compassionate, well-trained staff, there are some facilities that take advantage of and neglect their vulnerable residents. Tragically, this neglect can cause residents to suffer severe discomfort, injury, illness, and even death.
Not all forms of neglect are obvious at first glance. Here are some of common examples of neglect in nursing homes.
Medical neglect
Many elder care facility residents suffer from physical and mental health conditions that require around-the-clock supervision and care. Failure to provide adequate medical care to these patients may result in medical neglect. Medical neglect may include:
- Failure to provide proper doses of necessary medications at the proper times
- Ignoring complaints of pain or discomfort or requests for assistance
- Failure to seek informed consent before administering treatment
- Failure to provide necessary medical equipment
- Failure to provide adequate care, resulting in bedsores, injuries resulting from a fall, etc.
Failure to provide basic care
In addition to medical care, facilities are required to provide basic necessities for the residents to survive. Failure to provide residents with adequate meals/water, clean clothing, bedding, and other necessities, and to ensure that residents are properly bathed and maintain personal hygiene is neglect and can result in malnutrition, dehydration, and bed sores.
Emotional neglect
Physical neglect is not the only concern in nursing home care facilities. Isolating residents and failure to provide residents with opportunities to interact with others are forms of emotional neglect.
Many elder care facility residents suffer due to all types of neglect. An attorney with experience representing victims of elder abuse can help your loved one file a claim against a nursing home facility if they are suffering due to neglect.
