Despite federal and state oversight, the physical and emotional abuse and neglect that nursing home residents suffer are extremely prevalent. At Ted A. Greve & Associates, we have successfully represented many residents and their families who have sustained harm due to the lack of care by nursing home staff. Any family who suspects their elderly loved one has been the victim of nursing home neglect at the hands of the very people they have entrusted their care to should contact a Charlotte, NC bedsore injury lawyer immediately.
Nursing Home Neglect
Every nursing home is required to provide certain quality of care duties for the residents it is responsible for. These include feeding, bathing, providing medical care and medication, and overall supervision to ensure the resident stays safe. If the resident is not provided with any of these, the nursing home is guilty of neglecting its duties and causing harm to that resident.
The cause of that neglect can be attributed to a number of reasons. In some cases, the staff member who is assigned to the resident fails to perform their duties. It could be they are overworked because the facility doesn’t have enough staff. Lack of staff is a significant issue at nursing homes.
Another frequent problem that leads to neglect is that the nursing home management fails to train or supervise their staff to make sure that proper care is being provided to residents.
Signs Of Neglect
Whatever the reason for the neglect, nursing home neglect can cause serious harm to an elderly resident and can result in a nursing home neglect lawsuit. One of the most prevalent signs of neglect are bedsores, also referred to as pressure ulcers. These wounds occur when there is prolonged pressure put on the skin, causing a reduction in the blood flow. This results in tissue damage.
When a resident is immobile, it is critical for nursing home staff to reposition them on a consistent basis because that resident is unable to move themselves. Failure to reposition the resident regularly, addressing signs of comfort, and maintaining property hygiene causes bedsores. Bedsores can lead to severe infections and long-term health complications.
One critical issue is the development of bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, which occur when prolonged pressure on the skin reduces blood flow, causing tissue damage. Neglect can exacerbate this problem by failing to reposition patients regularly, maintaining proper hygiene, or addressing signs of discomfort. Bedsores can lead to severe infections and long-term health complications, emphasizing the need for vigilant, compassionate care. If this happens, a Charlotte bedsore injury lawyer can discuss what legal recourse your family may have.
Other signs of potential nursing home neglect include:
- Dental issues and infections. Along with bedsores, a resident may suffer dental issues and other types of infections that are also a result of the staff’s failure to properly bathe and provide personal hygiene for the resident and change their bedding on a regular basis.
- Dehydration and malnutrition. This is a result of the staff’s failure to provide the resident with enough water and food.
- Fall injuries, contagious illnesses, and exposure to hazards. This is a result of the staff’s failure to provide supervision or provide a healthy and clean environment for residents.
- Deterioration of the resident’s overall condition. This is often a result of the staff giving the resident the wrong or incorrect amounts of medication.
- Physical injuries caused by other residents. This is a result of staff not properly supervising all residents.
Contact Ted A. Greve & Associates
The legal team at Ted A. Greve & Associates understands how difficult the decision to place a loved one in a nursing home can be. We also understand how horrifying it can be to find out that the people you place your complete trust in to care for your loved one failed to do their job, and your family member has suffered injury and pain because of that failure. Do not delay calling our office for a free and confidential consultation with a Charlotte bedsore injury lawyer to determine your legal options.
