Every year, families put their loved ones into nursing homes, hoping that they’re going to get the best care. But unfortunately, that may not be the case, and some are subjected to abuse and/or neglect in the nursing home. Under federal nursing home regulations, nursing homes must ensure a patient’s care and safety, including promoting each resident’s quality and maintaining the dignity and respect of each resident.
“There are several signs that something may be wrong with your loved one’s care in a nursing home, so you will want to pay close attention if their emotional state or physical appearance deteriorate during visits,” says Thomas Bumgardner, personal injury lawyer with The Law Office of Thomas Bumgardner, PLLC.
Physical Abuse
Keep a close eye on any scratches or bruises on your loved one. Use caution though when it comes to physical abuse because a bruise could happen from your loved one simply bumping into a door or a table. You will also want to see if they form any type of bed sore. This can exhibit a level of neglect.
Emotional Changes
This type of change could display in a variety of different manners, like sadness or depression or sudden bursts of anger. The mood changes could manifest because of a change of environment. But there is cause for concern if the emotional changes last for a long period of time.
Appearance Changes
If you notice that your loved one has lost a good amount of weight, is wearing dirty clothes or has poor hygiene, there could be a bigger issue with their care.
Staff Issues
Once you decide to address your loved one’s care, pay attention to how the staff reacts to your concerns. If a staff member is evasive in their answers, deflects the questions or makes up excuses that could be a red flag. Also, if you notice that the staff doesn’t interact with residents, that could be a sign that a potential issue exists.
If you have noticed these warning signs with your loved one in the care of a nursing home, call the Law Office of Thomas Bumgardner for a free consultation at (704) 870-4779. We will advise you on how to move forward.