As parents and other loved ones age, many are unable to care for all of their needs, especially if the loved one needs daily medical attention. So, many people end up placing their loved ones in a nursing home so that their needs are met. People try to do their research and pick the best possible home, but even at the best nursing homes people make mistakes from time to time.
However, in nursing homes, the problems may be created not necessarily by an actual action but the opposite: neglect. Nursing home staff may fail to check on people, administer medications on time or attend to other medical needs in a timely fashion, ensure people maintain their proper hygiene, fail to keep the room clean and other types of neglect. This type of neglect is not always easy to see when family members come and visit though, so it is important to look for certain signs of neglect.
Some of the warning signs of nursing home neglect include, but are not limited to: sudden weight loss in people who need help feeding themselves, bedsores, frequent infections, dehydration, withdrawn or changed behavior, the person’s attitude and reaction to certain nursing home staff, changes in the person’s appearance and hygiene, noticing unsafe medical equipment, slippery floors and other hazards.
There are many residents in Pennsylvania nursing homes who may experience neglect. This neglect can lead to serious medical conditions for the resident. If this occurs, the residents and their family may be able to obtain compensation for this neglect and subsequent medical complications that arise because of it.
Source: Nursing Home Abuse Center, “Nursing Home Neglect” accessed on Oct. 9, 2017
