When a loved one moves into a nursing home, you trust that the staff will take care of them and ensure they receive the care they need to remain happy and healthy. Unfortunately, nursing home residents may suffer neglect because of understaffing and workers who are burned out or simply abusive.
Learn about the warning signs of nursing home neglect in Westminster and contact a lawyer immediately if you believe your family member has sustained injuries and or psychological trauma from elder abuse or nursing home neglect. A qualified personal injury attorney from Mac Hester Law could help you recover compensation to offset the losses you and loved one have received.
Hygiene & Sanitation Issues
Nursing homes should be clean and sanitized living spaces with well cared for residents. Yet, some nursing homes do not take the necessary steps to maintain organized and clean premises.
In addition to noticeable dirt and dust in common areas, residents’ rooms can appear dirty and messy. They may feature overflowing trash, toilets and showers with mold and mildew, and noticeable food crumbs among other debris. It may be obvious that residents who need bathing and grooming assistance may not receive it when nursing home abuse is happening, resulting in body odor, long nails, and foul-smelling breath and hair.
Malnutrition & Dehydration
Westminster assisted living centers can neglect their residents by failing to provide enough nutritious food for the people in their care or by limiting their water access. Residents may look thin and malnourished as a result, with typical warning signs including yellow skin, glassy or red eyes, canker sores, bed sores, and white fingernails. Signs of dehydration include dry, paper-like skin, decreased urine output, sunken cheeks and eyes, rapid breathing, low blood pressure, delirium, and an inability to perspire.
What Could it Mean if a Westminster Resident has Unexplained Injuries?
Neglect and abuse in nursing facilities can include injuries loved ones cannot explain, such as bruises, cuts, and even broken bones. Slip and fall accidents can cause all of these injuries if, for example, floors are improperly maintained and lacking staff assistance. This type of accident is one of the leading causes of preventable senior fatalities according to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention. Unsafe mobility equipment and poorly maintained furnishings also contribute to trip and fall incidents.
Emotional Warning Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Some abuse and neglect in nursing homes can cause psychological and emotional problems in elderly loved ones. They may become withdrawn and distant because they are afraid of facility staff members or are afraid to let their family know they are being abused. Older individuals in such situations often become depressed and uninterested in activities that once excited them. They may even dissuade friends and family from visiting.
Mobility Loss in Loved Ones
Many local assisted living facilities and nursing homes around the country offer exercise programs that help residents stay active to avoid muscle loss, blood circulation problems, and balance and mobility problems. Family members who do not receive the correct care may become less mobile or entirely dependent on wheelchairs. If they are left in bed for too long, they can develop bed sores in addition to facing serious mobility problems.
Contact an Attorney if You Have Noticed Any Warning Signs of Nursing Home Neglect in Westminster
If you believe a loved one has experienced one or several warning signs of elder abuse or nursing home neglect in Westminster, contact an attorney immediately. Lawyers who represent clients in assisted living abuse cases have a comprehensive understanding of state and federal laws that protect against such neglect. They can work tirelessly to expose facilities that abuse their residents and hold them accountable on your behalf.
Help your loved one enjoy life again by contacting our law firm today. The attorneys at Mac Hester Law will be happy to discuss your case.