Deciding to entrust the care of a loved one to a nursing home is never an easy decision. Nursing homes are supposed to be places where we can trust that our loved ones will receive the care and attention they need, and that they will be safe from preventable harm. Unfortunately, abuse and neglect can and do happen in facilities across the country, usually as a result of a lack of qualified staff or negligent hiring or supervision of staff. Abuse can include everything from neglect and physical abuse to financial exploitation and emotional abuse.
If you have a loved one in a nursing home, be sure to watch for these signs of abuse:
- Your loved one has suffered sudden weight loss due to malnutrition or suffers from dry mouth, cracked lips, swollen tongue, and reduced urine output from dehydration.
- Your loved one has developed one or more bedsores from not being regularly repositioned in their beds.
- Your loved one’s hygiene has suffered due to a lack of assistance with basic care. Signs may include smelling of urine and feces, wearing dirty clothes, unwashed hair, body odor, and overgrown nails.
- Your loved one’s personality and behavior has changed, leaving them agitated, withdrawn, fearful, embarrassed, or depressed. This may be a sign of bullying, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.
- Your loved one has become immobile due to a lack of assistance with walking and daily exercise programs.
- Your loved one seems drowsy, confused, or sleeping all the time. This could be a sign that they are receiving an overdose of medication that has gone uncorrected.
- Your loved one has unexplained injuries, including bruises, broken bones, scratches, or dislocations from rough handling during repositioning, transfers, feeding, and medicine administration.
If you have noticed any of the above, abuse may potentially be occurring. It is important that you immediately bring your concerns to the head of the facility. Then, you should get in touch with an experienced Lexington nursing home abuse attorney at Goeing Goeing & McQuinn PLLC to discuss your legal options. We are dedicated to holding negligent nursing homes responsible for their misconduct and are prepared to help you seek justice. Contact our firm today to learn more about how the law protects our nation’s elderly residents.
Our office can be reached at (859) 253-0088.