Placing your loved one in a nursing home or long-term care facility is often the last resort if your family cannot provide the care they require. When you choose the facility, you trust they will provide your loved one with the same level of care and respect that you would at home.
Unfortunately, nursing homes and long-term facility neglect and abuse are a problem in this state and country. Contact a skilled South Bend nursing home abuse lawyer to set up a consultation if you need assistance. A compassionate attorney could help your family seek justice for the wrongdoing.
Common Causes for Nursing Home Misconduct
Assisted living facilities are required to treat their residents with utmost care and respect. However, certain situations could lead to residents not receiving the care they require. This includes:
- Staff burnout
- Stressful working conditions due to understaffing
- Inadequate staff training and inexperience
- Lack of proper supervision, management, and accountability
- Underpayment of staff
People who believe that their loved ones are being mistreated while residing in a nursing home, reach out to a South Bend attorney immediately.
Different Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Many people assume abuse is physical. While that is true, there are other types of abuse elderly residents can experience at an assisted living facility, that our understanding South Bend lawyers could explain further.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse includes any bodily harm or injuries. Injuries may be a result of kicking, pushing, slapping, or restraining.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse includes psychological abuse meant to manipulate the resident. Examples include controlling, insulting, isolating, name-calling, or threatening.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse occurs when the resident experiences unwanted sexual contact. Examples include groping or inappropriate touching.
Nursing Home Neglect
Neglect happens when nursing home staff does not provide adequate care to the resident. Examples include maintaining personal hygiene, ignoring complaints, failing to report injuries, or leaving the resident alone for long periods.
Financial Exploitation
Financial exploitation occurs when a staff member steals or manipulates a resident to take their money or property. Some examples include misusing a power of attorney or stealing a resident’s credit cards, checks, or cash.
Signs and Symptoms of Elderly Resident Mistreatment
Nursing home abuse may occur intentionally or intentionally because of understaffing. Regardless of the reason, the victim of abuse and their family should hold the facility accountable. Typical signs and symptoms of nursing home abuse to look for include:
Bedsores
Bedsores are a common sign of neglect and abuse at nursing homes. They are injuries that develop on the skin and are extremely painful. They occur due to that part of the body being under pressure for long periods. Patients with mobility issues are most susceptible to these injuries.
Falls
Falls commonly occur in nursing homes. However, a court could consider them negligent if the facilities do not do their due diligence to prevent the residents from falling continuously. The facilities must ensure all residents are safe and protect them from potential hazards.
Malnutrition and Dehydration
Nursing home residents often have problems drinking and feeding themselves. The staff must ensure they receive the proper amount of nutrition and liquids daily. When facilities are understaffed, this rarely occurs. If a resident becomes malnourished or dehydrated because of understaffing, the court could consider this the nursing home’s negligence.
The Adult Protective Services Act
There is federal and state legislation in place to protect the elderly living in facilities. The Adult Protective Services Act is in place to protect the safety and welfare of nursing home and long-term facility residents. Laws set specific procedures for reporting potential endangered adults or victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
The legislation further provides definitions of endangered adults, neglect, and abuse. A seasoned nursing home abuse lawyer in South Bend could answer questions about The Adult Protective Services Act and how to report any potential abuse.
Meet With a Skilled South Bend Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Nursing home abuse and neglect is a severe matter that could have deadly consequences. Reporting abuse that you suspect could not only help your loved one, but it could stop future abuses from occurring.
If a nursing home or staff member did not keep your loved one safe, you might have grounds to hold them legally accountable. Contact an experienced South Bend nursing home abuse lawyer to schedule a meeting. Our PI lawyer in South Bend will help you.
