Bed Sores

Also known as pressure ulcers, bed sores are a common sign of nursing home abuse and neglect. Bed sores develop when a person is confined to a bed or chair for an extended period without moving. The constant pressure on the same skin area cuts off circulation and causes the skin to break down, leading to an open wound. Bed sores can be excruciating and can become infected if not properly treated.

Malnutrition

Malnutrition is another common sign of nursing home abuse and neglect. When residents do not receive proper nutrition, they can become frail, leading to serious health problems such as organ failure or death.

Dehydration

Dehydration is also a common sign of nursing home abuse and neglect. When residents do not receive enough fluids, they can become dehydrated. Dehydration can cause serious health problems, such as kidney failure or death.

Falls

Falls are another common sign of nursing home abuse and neglect. When residents go unsupervised, they may fall and suffer serious injuries, such as broken bones or head injuries.

Medication Errors

Medication errors are also a common sign of nursing home abuse and neglect. Receiving incorrect medication often points to more profound dysfunction among the care team and can lead to serious health problems.

How You Can Prevent Abuse and Neglect of Your Loved One 

Prevention is the best medicine for nursing home abuse and neglect. The following tips can help you keep your loved ones safe in a care facility:

• Get to know the staff at the nursing home and visit often. Pay attention to your loved one’s appearance and mood, and ask questions if anything seems off.
• Familiarize yourself with the rights of nursing home residents so you can advocate for your loved one if necessary.
• If you see or suspect abuse or neglect, don’t be afraid to speak up. Report your concerns to the nursing home staff, management, or local authorities.

If you suspect abuse or neglect, an experienced attorney can help you investigate and pursue legal action on behalf of your loved one.

The post The 5 Most Common Examples of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect appeared first on Campbell & Associates.

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According to The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, this year’s theme for Residents’ Rights Month is Connection Matters. It only takes a quick Google search to bring up numerous stories of nursing home residents being more isolated now than ever before. Their already small worlds and been made even smaller thanks to the current health crisis.

Nursing homes have shut out visitors in an attempt to keep their residents healthy, yet the lack of connection seems to be having the opposite effect. The inability to stay connected with loved ones and friends has harmed the overall well-being of many nursing home residents. In many of these facilities, staff are overwhelmed and not able to compensate for the lack of connection their residents are feeling. Stories abound of long-term care patients being left unattended and not receiving the care they need or deserve, and of neglect and abuse.

Along with focusing on connection, Long Term Residents’ Rights Months is and always will be a month to focus on the dignity, value and respect of nursing home residents. This is a population that should be taken care of, not left to fend for themselves. Anyone who has a family member in a nursing home in New York who they believe is not being treated with the care and respect they deserve may be able to do something about it — particularly if neglect or abuse is suspected. Legal counsel can review one’s case and, if appropriate, provide assistance seeking justice and compensation for the victim.

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As of May 3, 2020, 15 states have passed laws in an effort to protect nursing homes from being held accountable during the pandemic. New York is one of those states. ABC7NY news reported 20,000 deaths nationwide in nursing homes since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The health and care decisions have become literally life and death for workers in these facilities, so the laws were enacted to make medical decisions easier for the workers. But what about the loved ones? How will you know if your loved one is receiving the care and attention they need during this time, especially when you can not see the resident in person? How will you know how they are doing? Even if you can’t see your loved one in a nursing home face-to-face, you can still stay involved in their care.

Staying involved from a distance

Here are some suggestions on how to stay involved, even in the most difficult circumstances.

1. Be proactive – Don’t wait for the nurse or staff at the facility to reach out to you. Pick up the phone and call the front desk. They will be able to direct you to the best contacts to get your questions answered, including nurses, aides, dietitians, and administration. They should also be able to provide emails for these contacts so you can send a message, which also gives you answers in writing for ease of future reference.
2. Be consistent – Set up regular chat meetings with your loved one such as weekly or monthly. Perhaps before the pandemic, you visited your loved one every Friday or every other Wednesday. Try to set up a similar schedule so you will have regular check-ins to see how mom, dad, grandma, grandpa or other family members are doing.
3. Be a video-conferencing expert – Use technology to see your family member online if you are unable to be there in person. Many video conferencing technologies have become household names during 2020 such as Zoom, Facetime (for iPhone users), Google Duo (app for non-iPhone users), Google Chats and Skype.
4. Be prepared with questions – Video visits with a loved one may be shorter than in person visits, so having a list of questions to ask your loved one and the staff at the facility can help you feel prepared and empowered. Here are some questions to ask:
   1. Are they eating meals?
   2. Are they getting enough liquids to stay hydrated?
   3. Are they talkative?
   4. Are they responsive?
   5. Are they up and out of bed for the day?
   6. Has anyone checked their feet lately?
   7. What are their vitals (blood pressure, temperature, oxygenation)?

Accountability should never be optional

If you think a loved one is being neglected or injured in a nursing home, there is help. Speak with an attorney well versed in representation of nursing home injury cases. Nursing homes should still be held accountable, even in the worst of times.

The post 4 Ways to Advocate for a Loved One in a Nursing Home appeared first on Campbell & Associates.