Placing your elderly loved ones into care is not a simple task. You trust the health and wellbeing of someone who means so much to you, to a staff of complete strangers, many of whom you've never met before. And though the vast majority of nursing home staff are highly trained, altruistic, and competent, there are always a few bad eggs; bad eggs that can harm your loved one and compromise their health through neglect or even full on abuse.
However, some signs of neglect are so seemingly inconsequential that you may not recognize the danger. You may not even have the time to find a lawyer to handle your case until it becomes too late. Before the unthinkable happens, the following are some telltale signs that your loved one may being neglected at the nursing home where they should be cared for.
Malnutrition/Dehydration
Possibly the most preventable of conditions, malnutrition or dehydration can cause immense problems for a senior citizen. There is little excuse for malnutrition and dehydration. It essentially means that no one is making sure that your loved one is eating and keeping a regular water intake schedule. The overall implication is that the nursing home itself isn't working hard enough to maintain the senior's nutritional needs. Besides causing the immune system to grind to a halt, malnutrition could lead to osteoporosis and greater susceptibility to...... Falling.
Falls are actually one of the leading causes of trauma and complications in a nursing home. And, oddly enough, it is the bone that tends to break and cause the fall, rather than the fall that causes the break. Brittle and weak bones are a direct result of poor nutrition, and neglect could get the senior in the compromising situation that eventually causes their accident. Falls are quite serious; therefore it is important take bone fractures or malnutrition seriously as well.
Bedsores
When a senior is confined to a bed for extended periods of time, it does not mean that they require less attention; on the contrary. They are actually far more at risk for bedsores, which are highly debilitating pressure build ups that can cause infections or injury. If the pressure that builds in certain areas of the body is not relieved by changing positions, stretching, and adjusting when discomforted, then the pressure could pinch skin and muscle tissue between the bone. The result is a degraded condition and risk of internal infection. Bedsores indicate that no one is assisting the senior citizen when they feel uncomfortable.
What to Do?
If you feel as though your loved one is experiencing ANY of the symptoms outlined above, it is better to be safe than sorry. Rather than risk conflict and exacerbating the situation by confronting the nurse, find a lawyer that will consult with you and your loved one to decide the extremities of the situation. Such consultations are often inexpensive, and could be the decision that saves your loved one's life.
Nursing home negligence is an irresponsible and reprehensible crime. Fight for the life of your loved one by staying aware of warning signs and finding a lawyer to support you legally.
However, some signs of neglect are so seemingly inconsequential that you may not recognize the danger. You may not even have the time to find a lawyer to handle your case until it becomes too late. Before the unthinkable happens, the following are some telltale signs that your loved one may being neglected at the nursing home where they should be cared for.
Malnutrition/Dehydration
Possibly the most preventable of conditions, malnutrition or dehydration can cause immense problems for a senior citizen. There is little excuse for malnutrition and dehydration. It essentially means that no one is making sure that your loved one is eating and keeping a regular water intake schedule. The overall implication is that the nursing home itself isn't working hard enough to maintain the senior's nutritional needs. Besides causing the immune system to grind to a halt, malnutrition could lead to osteoporosis and greater susceptibility to...... Falling.
Falls are actually one of the leading causes of trauma and complications in a nursing home. And, oddly enough, it is the bone that tends to break and cause the fall, rather than the fall that causes the break. Brittle and weak bones are a direct result of poor nutrition, and neglect could get the senior in the compromising situation that eventually causes their accident. Falls are quite serious; therefore it is important take bone fractures or malnutrition seriously as well.
Bedsores
When a senior is confined to a bed for extended periods of time, it does not mean that they require less attention; on the contrary. They are actually far more at risk for bedsores, which are highly debilitating pressure build ups that can cause infections or injury. If the pressure that builds in certain areas of the body is not relieved by changing positions, stretching, and adjusting when discomforted, then the pressure could pinch skin and muscle tissue between the bone. The result is a degraded condition and risk of internal infection. Bedsores indicate that no one is assisting the senior citizen when they feel uncomfortable.
What to Do?
If you feel as though your loved one is experiencing ANY of the symptoms outlined above, it is better to be safe than sorry. Rather than risk conflict and exacerbating the situation by confronting the nurse, find a lawyer that will consult with you and your loved one to decide the extremities of the situation. Such consultations are often inexpensive, and could be the decision that saves your loved one's life.
Nursing home negligence is an irresponsible and reprehensible crime. Fight for the life of your loved one by staying aware of warning signs and finding a lawyer to support you legally.
For more information on how you can defend the rights of your loves ones visit http://www.johnsongardyteumer.com
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