What are the Different Types of Nursing Home Neglect?
Sadly, nursing home neglect is more common than many people think. However, it is not always easy to identify. If your loved one has made complaints, or you have observed behavior you are not sure is fair or legal, you may be wondering if it constitutes negligence. Below, our Tampa nursing home neglect attorney explains the different types of negligence, and how you can spot when it is happening.
Neglecting Basic Needs
Under state and federal law, nursing homes have a legal obligation to provide residents with a safe and comfortable environment. This includes maintaining an appropriate temperature, cleaning the facility regularly, and ensuring residents have access to safe water and food. When these standards are not met, nursing homes are neglecting the basic needs of residents.
Medical Neglect
Medical neglect can occur in a nursing home when staff members do not provide residents with sufficient medical care. This can happen when the facility does not coordinate with medical providers to make sure that a resident attends all of their appointments and that their medical needs are met. For example, if a certified nursing assistant failed to report to the nursing supervisor about a resident’s needs and the elder suffered harm as a result, that is medical neglect.
Hygienic Neglect
Nursing home residents often cannot perform basic hygiene. In these instances, nursing home staff members must help them with basic tasks such as washing and combing their hair. Staff members who refuse to complete these tasks are negligent and can be held liable for their inaction.
Emotional Neglect
Unfortunately, neglect is not only physical. Socialization is important for everyone’s mental and physical health, including seniors. When nursing home residents are not provided with visitation time with their family members and friends, or they are isolated from other nursing home residents or activities, this is considered emotional neglect.
How to Identify Nursing Home Neglect
Sadly, it is not always easy to detect nursing home neglect. Negligent actions usually happen behind closed doors, and residents often have cognitive issues, such as dementia, that can make it challenging for them to talk about nursing home neglect. As such, it is critical that everyone understands the most common signs of nursing home neglect. They are as follows:
- Bruising and fractures
- Bedsores
- Emotional withdrawal
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Falls
- Unexplained financial problems
- Issues with personal hygiene
- Unexplained injuries
- Unexplained hospitalizations
Any time you notice the above signs of neglect in your loved one, it is important to speak to an attorney about how to make it right.
Call Our Nursing Home Neglect Attorney in Tampa Today
Learning that your loved one has been a victim of neglect is devastating. At Kohn Law, our Tampa nursing home neglect attorney knows how to fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect and will protect your loved one. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or chat with us online to schedule a free review of your case and to learn more about how we can help your family.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html
