When our grandparents or older loved ones get too old to live alone, we seek for them a safe place where they’ll stay happy, right? But sometimes, the people working at these nursing homes don’t do their jobs properly. They might neglect or mistreat the older folks living there. That’s called nursing home negligence, and it’s not okay.
The main reason we put together this article is to learn more about what constitutes nursing home neglect so we can protect our loved ones from elder abuse.
Have you visited your older loved one in a nursing home and realized they have been looking sadder lately? Their room is kind of messy, and they seem hungrier than usual. You should start worrying that maybe the staff might be neglecting them and not giving them proper care.
In simple terms, nursing home negligence means caregivers are not doing their job of providing good care to their residents. It’s a form of abuse that happens when the staff is neglectful and causes harm or suffering to the older adults living there.
Some nursing home neglect include,
While nursing home negligence is not as bad as physical abuse, neglect is still very harmful to the fragile health of any nursing home resident. The good news is that if your loved one is a victim of neglect, you can take legal action.
This is when caregivers altogether abandon a resident and don’t care for them at all. They abandon their responsibilities entirely without any concern for the resident’s well-being.
Abandonment like this leaves any resident in danger and puts them at risk of physical harm.
This is not providing proper medical treatment for health problems like infections, mobility issues, etc.
Studies show that nursing home residents are given at least one inappropriate medication by staff, with female residents receiving it more often than males. Untreated or misdiagnosed conditions can become life-threatening to the residents.
This includes not giving residents enough food, water, or providing a safe, clean environment. Lack of these basic necessities can cause malnutrition, dehydration, and safety risks.
This includes not helping the residents bathe, use the bathroom, do their laundry, etc. If these are neglected, their hygiene and appearance suffer.
This includes ignoring residents and not letting them interact with others. This is more common with residents with disabilities.
How can you tell that neglect is happening in your loved one’s nursing homes?
Here are some warning signs to look out for:
Why does nursing home negligence happen so often? Here are the three biggest reasons.
Understaffing: When there are not enough caregivers in a nursing home, each resident gets less attention and is most likely to be neglected.
Hiring Issues: Nursing homes need to conduct background checks. When this is not considered, they often hire unqualified or abusive staff, which leads to negative results.
Poor training: Staff who aren’t adequately trained are more likely to neglect residents’ needs through carelessness.
If you suspect your loved one is being neglected, you have the option to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit. First, report your nursing home abuse claim to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s nursing home hotline at 1-800-252-4343. They’ll investigate your case and follow the nursing home care act.
You can also hire a lawyer to file a nursing home abuse claim lawsuit against the nursing home for negligence. Your nursing home negligence lawyer will ensure the home is held accountable and that you and your family are compensated for elder abuse and mistreatment.
Look for nursing home abuse lawyers specializing in nursing home cases, like The Finn law firm, who have experience advocating for residents’ rights. Don’t wait—the sooner you get legal help, the better your chance of stopping the neglect and getting justice.