Some forms of nursing home abuse, like physical abuse, can produce obvious signs and symptoms like bruises, broken bones, abrasions, and lacerations. However, signs and symptoms of emotional or psychological abuse, or indicators of passive neglect, may be less obvious or more difficult to detect. Beyond what might seem like obvious signs of abuse, what else should you be looking for when you visit a loved one at a nursing home in New York? Our New York nursing home negligence lawyers can provide you with more information about what might be some of the more unexpected indicators of nursing home neglect.
Signs of Nursing Home Neglect You Might Not Expect
What indicators of nursing home abuse or neglect should you be looking for when you visit an elderly loved one in a nursing home that you might not otherwise expect? According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), you should always be aware of the following signs of negligence and seek help:
Weight loss: If there is not a clear and obvious explanation as to why your elderly loved one is losing weight, it is critical to consider the possibility of nursing home neglect. Unexpected weight loss can occur when an elderly nursing home resident is experiencing psychological or emotional abuse and not eating properly as a result, as well as when a resident is not receiving adequate nutrition.
Bed sores: While bed sores can form relatively quickly even when a patient is receiving care, bed sores are frequently a sign of nursing home negligence. In particular, more serious bed sores that are beyond stage 1 are frequently an indicator that the nursing home resident is not being properly attended to by nursing home staff.
Dirty room or facilities: Nursing homes should be clean, and there should not be any foul odors or indicators that the facility is not being properly cleaned. If your elderly loved one has a dirty room, or any of the facilities appear dirty or have a foul odor, you should be wary of the possibility of nursing home negligence. Your elderly loved one also might show signs that they have not bathed recently and a general lack of personal hygiene.
Frequent infections: If your elderly loved one is frequently getting infections that need to be treated, it could be a sign that the facility has poor infection-control measures. If this is the case, your loved one’s infections could be the result of nursing home negligence, and it may be possible to hold the facility accountable.
Safety issues: When you notice any obvious safety issues in a facility, such as torn carpeting, liquid spills in the food area, or a lack of handrails in stairwells or in the restrooms, your loved one’s fall-related injuries could have been caused by negligence at the facility in relation to safety issues and ensuring that the facility is safe for residents.
Contact Our Experienced New York Nursing Home Negligence Attorneys
Whether you have concerns about nursing home neglect or you need help filing a claim, one of our experienced nursing home negligence attorneys in New York can speak with you today about your circumstances and concerns. It may be possible to hold a facility accountable for harm. Contact Leitner Varughese Warywoda PLLC to learn more about the services we provide to nursing home residents and their families in nursing home neglect cases.
