When you decide to put a loved one in a nursing home, you likely vetted many facilities until you found the one you believed would provide your loved one with the best care possible. Sadly, any nursing home resident could be the victim of nursing home neglect, even in facilities that on the outside seem to be quality establishments. The following are four red flags to look out for that could indicate nursing home neglect.
Lack of hygiene
Many nursing home residents depend on staff to help them bath, dress, brush their hair and teeth and take care of other personal hygiene tasks. If the staff fails to meet these needs, your loved one may go without. If you notice your loved one looks unkempt or dirty, it may be a sign that the nursing home is not taking care of your loved one’s personal hygiene, which is an example of nursing home neglect.
Dirty facilities
Nursing homes bear the responsibility of making sure their facilities are clean and safe for residents and nursing homes must provide residents with clean clothes and bedding. If the nursing home facilities seem unsanitary, if could be sign of nursing home neglect. It could also violate federal law.
Malnutrition
Many nursing home residents rely on the facility to provide them with healthy foods that meet their dietary needs. These residents often cannot cook themselves. They may need a special diet, or they may need foods that are soft and easy to chew and swallow. If your loved one is malnourished or dehydrated it could be a sign of nursing home neglect.
Bedsores and other injuries
Nursing home residents need to be able to move about to the best of their abilities. If your loved one seems less mobile than usual or develops bedsores it is a sign that the facility is not helping your loved one stay active. Other injuries, such as broken bones and head injuries could indicate your loved one is being abused, is falling or is being neglected.
Look out for signs of nursing home neglect
These are only some signs that a loved one may be the victim of nursing home neglect. Ultimately, nursing homes should be held accountable for neglect. One way to do this is to determine whether you have the grounds to pursue a nursing home negligence lawsuit.