nursing home neglect warning Signs & popular categories

Bỏ bê viện dưỡng lão là gì?

Bỏ bê tại viện dưỡng lão là một hình thức lạm dụng đối với người cư trú tại viện dưỡng lão, cơ sở hỗ trợ sinh hoạt và các cơ sở chăm sóc khác. Sơ suất của viện dưỡng lão liên quan đến việc chăm sóc kém hoặc vi phạm nghĩa vụ khiến người dân phải chịu đựng.

Ví dụ về việc bỏ bê viện dưỡng lão bao gồm:

• Để một cư dân có vấn đề về di chuyển trong phòng của họ hàng giờ liền
• Không gọi bác sĩ hoặc y tá khi cần thiết
• Không thay quần áo hoặc giường ngủ của cư dân thường xuyên
• Không vệ sinh cư dân hàng ngày
• Không cung cấp đủ thức ăn và nước uống cho người dân
• Không điều trị thương tích hoặc bệnh tật của cư dân (vết lở, nhiễm trùng, v.v.)

Mặc dù sơ suất của viện dưỡng lão không nghiêm trọng như các hình thức lạm dụng khác tại viện dưỡng lão nhưng nó có thể gây hại cho sức khỏe thể chất và tinh thần của người lớn tuổi.

Rất may, nạn nhân bị bỏ rơi tại viện dưỡng lão có thể khởi kiện.

Hãy liên hệ với nhóm của chúng tôi ngay bây giờ để được tư vấn miễn phí nhằm tìm hiểu cách bạn có thể theo đuổi hỗ trợ tài chính và yêu cầu các cơ sở phải chịu trách nhiệm.

Các kiểu bỏ bê tại viện dưỡng lão

Việc bỏ bê ở viện dưỡng lão có thể có nhiều hình thức, bao gồm:

Sự bỏ rơi

Điều này xảy ra khi người có quyền giám hộ người khác bỏ rơi họ mà không quan tâm đến hạnh phúc của họ.

Vào năm 2020, The New York Times lưu ý rằng các viện dưỡng lão đang loại bỏ cư dân để nhường chỗ cho bệnh nhân COVID-19, điều này sẽ làm tăng lợi nhuận của họ. Trong một trường hợp, một viện dưỡng lão ở Los Angeles đã đuổi một người đàn ông 88 tuổi mắc chứng mất trí nhớ và gửi ông đến nơi tạm trú cho người vô gia cư mà không báo cho gia đình ông biết.

Việc bị bỏ rơi có thể đe dọa sự an toàn của cư dân và khiến họ có nguy cơ bị tổn hại về thể chất.

Bỏ bê y tế

Bỏ bê y tế, hoặc sơ suất y tế, là khi các nhà cung cấp dịch vụ chăm sóc tại viện dưỡng lão không điều trị hoặc ngăn ngừa các vấn đề sức khỏe đúng cách. Điều này có thể dẫn đến việc chăm sóc bệnh nhân tiểu đường không đầy đủ , lở loét do nằm lâu (loét do áp lực), nhiễm trùng, các vấn đề về vận động và các vấn đề sức khỏe khác.

Without treatment, certain health issues can cause serious complications for nursing home residents, who are often already vulnerable. For example, untreated infections could worsen over time and lead to a potentially deadly condition called sepsis.

Medical neglect also includes medication errors. A study by the American Journal of Managed Care found that 75% of all patients given medications by facility staff were given at least one inappropriate medication.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), nursing homes may even misuse medications on purpose to sedate residents, making them easier to care for.

“Evidence has mounted over decades that some facilities wrongly diagnose residents with schizophrenia or administer antipsychotic drugs to sedate them, despite dangerous side effects that could include death, according to [CMS].”

—Associated Press

Neglect of Basic Needs

This type of nursing home negligence occurs when facilities fail to provide residents with enough food and water or a clean, safe environment.

As a result, residents may suffer from malnutrition or dehydration. They may also be at a higher risk of many other issues, like falling or theft, if their environment is unsafe.

Neglect of Personal Hygiene

This form of nursing home negligence happens when a facility fails to help a resident with dental care, laundry, and bathing. Residents suffering from the neglect of personal hygiene may appear dirty and wear soiled clothes.

Self-Neglect

This occurs when older adults lose the ability to care for themselves but do not seek assistance or refuse help from others.

Self-neglect can still happen in a nursing home. Remember, staff members are supposed to prevent residents from neglecting themselves. If your loved one shows signs of self-neglect in a care facility, the staff might not be doing their job, and nursing home negligence may be at play.

Social or Emotional Neglect

This may involve ignoring a nursing home resident, leaving them alone, or not letting them interact with friends, family, or other residents.

Residents with physical or mental disabilities or memory-related conditions, like Alzheimer’s disease, could have a higher risk of social neglect, as they may rely on caregivers to help them move around the facility and interact with others.

If you are concerned about the quality of care your loved one is receiving, look for red flags that may mean nursing home negligence is occurring.

Here are the top 6 warning signs of nursing home neglect:

Loss or Lack of Mobility

Good nursing homes have programs and policies to keep residents physically active and mobile.

Neglectful nursing homes may leave residents sitting in their beds or wheelchairs for long periods, causing them to develop mobility issues. When residents sit in wheelchairs or lay in their beds without being repositioned, pressure ulcers can quickly progress into stage 4 bedsores.

Poor Resident Hygiene

Many nursing home residents need help with personal health care, such as brushing their teeth and bathing.

Nursing homes without enough staff members often fail to keep residents clean and healthy.

Psychological Issues

Nursing home negligence may lead to emotional issues for residents, such as fear of caregivers, a reluctance to open up to staff, or anger and resentment.

Constant neglect can cause anxiety or depression. Some residents may distance themselves from friends and family members.

Signs of Inadequate Nutrition

Many residents who experience nursing home negligence are not getting enough food or water.

Loved ones should look for signs of dehydration and malnutrition, such as tiredness or irritability, complaints of being cold, hair loss, and papery skin.

Unexplained Injuries

Nursing homes with staffing issues are less likely to prevent residents from accidentally — or intentionally — harming themselves or others. Residents may suffer serious injuries like broken bones, bedrail injuries, and concussions.

Staff members may not report nursing home injuries in a timely manner or even know how a resident was injured.

Unsanitary Living Conditions

A nursing home should provide clean clothing, bedding, and living areas. Facilities should also be free from pests and mold. If a nursing home is often dirty, it could be a red flag that a resident you love is at a higher risk of neglect.

If your loved one is showing any of these signs of nursing home negligence, connect with our compassionate Patient Advocates now for a free case review.

Causes of Nursing Home Neglect

There are many causes of nursing home neglect, but several chronic issues are often the root causes.

Here are the most common causes of nursing home negligence:

Understaffing

When a nursing facility does not have enough staff, each resident receives less attention, increasing the risk of neglect.

Numerous federal reports have consistently found that most U.S. assisted living facilities are understaffed. This problem became even worse after COVID-19, which hit nursing homes especially hard.

Negligent Hiring

This involves hiring caretakers who are at high risk of neglecting older adults.

Nursing homes should follow a thorough screening process to check an applicant’s criminal background and certifications. If this does not happen, facilities may end up hiring people with a track record of abusing or neglecting vulnerable populations.

Inadequate Training

Nursing home staff members who are not properly trained for their roles can slip into patterns of neglect.

Untrained caretakers are more likely to make mistakes with medications, mistreat residents, and create other problems that cause harm.

What to Do About Nursing Home Neglect

Data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that nursing home neglect is very common. Alarmingly, it often goes unreported.

However, there are steps you can take if you suspect your loved one is the victim of nursing home negligence.

Here are some helpful topics on what to do next.

How to Report Nursing Home Neglect

If a loved one has suffered from nursing home negligence, make sure to report it to the authorities as soon as possible. Doing so can prevent further harm

Neglect may mean other forms of abuse are also taking place. This could include physical abuse or sexual assault.

Left untreated, health problems stemming from neglect can lead to depression, permanent disability, or even death.

If your loved one is the victim of nursing home neglect, you can contact:

• Local Law Enforcement (Dial 911 in an emergency) Police or paramedics can remove a resident from a neglectful nursing home and deliver them to a safe location. Police can also conduct a criminal investigation to determine if the nursing home has broken any laws.
• Adult Protective Services (APS)A state’s APS office will generally be in charge of investigating non-urgent complaints of nursing home neglect. An agent can conduct a welfare check on a resident and recommend the next steps.
• Long-Term Care OmbudsmanA nursing home ombudsman serves as an advocate for adults in long-term care facilities. They can address concerns an elder or their loved ones may have, investigate a nursing home for signs of neglect, and help victims take legal action if needed.
• Social Workers When investigating a complaint, APS may call on social workers they are partnered with to address a victim’s health and safety concerns.
• Nursing Home Abuse LawyersIf you think your loved one is the victim of nursing home negligence, an experienced nursing home abuse attorney can help. An attorney can pursue financial aid to help you and your family cover expenses stemming from the neglect.

Preventing Nursing Home Negligence

Taking a proactive approach is the best way to protect your family members from nursing home negligence.

Here are some measures you can take to keep your loved one safe:

• Carefully Reviewing Nursing Home FacilitiesBefore choosing a nursing home or assisted living facility, make sure it is properly staffed and well-maintained.

CMS has the Nursing Home Care Compare tool that you can use to research facilities. You can also check U.S. News & World Report and read reviews online.

If possible, speak to other residents or their families and see how they like living at the facility.

• Regularly Contacting Loved Ones Frequently visiting loved ones in nursing homes may make seeing signs of poor care easier. If frequent visits are impossible, keeping in touch through phone calls or other methods is helpful.
• Watching for Signs of Neglect or Abuse Simply being aware of the warning signs of nursing home neglect and abuse is key to addressing problems early on.
• Believing Loved Ones Never dismiss an older adult who complains of neglect — look into it. Not taking a resident’s complaints seriously may discourage them from speaking up in the future.

Remember, it’s important to act quickly, as each state has time limits called statutes of limitations. If you wait too long, these deadlines can prevent you from seeking justice and financial aid.

Connect with us now to see if you can file a nursing home negligence claim for your loved one.

Legal Help to End Nursing Home Neglect

If a loved one has been neglected in a nursing home, consider taking legal action. Filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit can help you pursue justice and potentially deter future neglect. A successful lawsuit also provides financial compensation for your loved one’s injuries.

No one should have to suffer from poor treatment during their most vulnerable years. If your loved one was the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, we can help.

Get a free case review today to see if you or your loved one may be entitled to compensation.