Even though nursing home facilities are created for the purpose of serving patients, you may be surprised to find that improper care is quite common. According to some studies, around 95% of nursing home residents have witnessed or faced neglect at least once in their lifetime. This should not be the case because neglect can lead to severe illnesses or even death.
If your loved one has suffered from nursing home neglect, they deserve justice. You put your trust in nursing homes to take care of your family members. You should not have to bear the emotional distress caused by another party’s negligence. Hire a personal injury lawyer in Cedar Rapids to understand your options.
Common signs of nursing home neglect
- Abandonment.
When you leave someone in the nursing home in Cedar Rapids, the facility should make sure that there is staff available for all patients at all times. If your loved one has been left alone for days or weeks without being offered any help or assistance from the nursing home staff, it is a major red flag. Your loved one should always feel welcomed and safe in the facility.
- Medical neglect.
When a patient gets admitted into a nursing home, the facility is responsible for ensuring their medical needs are met. Medical neglect occurs when the patient’s medical needs are incomplete for a long period of time, and the staff does not take any measures to correct the situation. It may include the following behavior by the staff.
- Not providing them with medications at the proper timings.
- Not providing immediate care when needed.
- Not taking care of a patient’s mobility issues and putting them at risk of bedsores.
- Not reporting potentially harmful signs, such as infections or symptoms of illnesses, to the doctors.
- Neglect of basic needs.
When your loved one does not receive even the basic needs of daily life, you know something is wrong. Daily basic needs include adequate food, water, clothing, and a sanitary and safe environment. When residents do not get their basic necessities, it can cause both short-term and long-term conditions. It may eventually lead to malnutrition and dehydration. When residents become weak, they also become vulnerable to falls.
- Social/emotional neglect.
A nursing home is not only supposed to take care of the patient’s medical needs but also make sure that they are satisfied emotionally. Many people look forward to living in nursing homes as they find it an opportunity to meet new people who are going through the same situations in life.
Talking with them is a form of social interaction that helps to keep their emotional health at bay. When nursing home staff prevents the residents from talking to each other, it can lead to emotional neglect.
