Warning Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

When your elderly loved one goes to live in a nursing home, you assume they are going to live out the rest of their days with the individualized care and attention their health demands. Tragically, however, nursing home residents often fall victim to nursing home neglect in Massachusetts. It is essential for anyone with a relative in a nursing home to know the warning signs of nursing home neglect and how to take action when they appear.

If you know or suspect that a loved one living in a nursing home has been the victim of nursing home neglect, you should contact a nursing home neglect lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer can review your case and identify whether they can help you recover nursing home neglect compensation.

What Is Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home neglect is a form of nursing home abuse. Abuse is a broad term that encompasses several forms of intentional harm, as well as harm that comes to a nursing home resident due to oversight or lack of adequate care. Nursing homes are heavily regulated in Massachusetts, and their workers have an obligation to provide appropriate care to their vulnerable residents.

When a nursing home fails to provide the care that an individual needs, it usually constitutes nursing home neglect. At the most basic level, nursing homes must provide adequate staffing, regular and nutritious meals, clean and hygienic living spaces, and adequate medical care. A failure to provide any of these, especially when the omission has a negative impact on a resident’s health, can be an instance of nursing home abuse.

However, the bare minimum is rarely enough for the elderly ones who reside in nursing homes. Nursing home residents often suffer from illnesses and chronic health conditions that require specialized care. For example, an elderly individual whose health confines them to their bed must be turned regularly to prevent the risk of bed sores. Anytime a nursing facility fails to provide the individualized care a resident needs, it is likely a sign of nursing home neglect.

Common Warning Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing Home Neglect Can Take Many Forms

Nursing home neglect shows up in different ways. This means that it is not always easy to recognize when a loved one is suffering neglect at the hands of nursing home workers. Furthermore, the warning signs of nursing home neglect can take many forms. Physical signs of neglect are often the easiest to spot. Noticing injuries is often how relatives first become aware that a loved one is being neglected in their nursing home.

Some of the most common physical signs of nursing home neglect include:

• Injuries like cuts, bruises, or broken bones;
• Frequent or persistent illness or infection;
• Weight loss;
• Bed sores;
• Unwashed or soiled clothing or bedding;
• Cluttered or unclean living areas; and
• Restraint marks on arms or legs.

Nursing home neglect often entails a lack of proper medical care or insufficient food or water. It can also involve low levels of cleanliness, like clothing and bedsheets not being regularly laundered or living quarters not being cleaned. In some cases, staffing or lack of proper care might lead to a resident’s being confined to their bed with restraints, which often leave bruises or cuts.

However, physical injuries are not the only warning sign of nursing home abuse. Other signs that might indicate something is wrong with the care a loved one is receiving include:

• Withdrawal or isolation;
• Changes in personality or behavior;
• Signs of depression or anxiety; and
• Sudden issues with mental health.

When an elderly person experiences neglect, it can take a serious toll on their mental and emotional health. It is not uncommon to notice stark changes in how a loved one interacts with visitors and other residents. Any type of unusual behavior is a warning sign that indicates it is worth taking a closer look at the level of care they are receiving at a nursing home facility.

Has your loved one shown signs of nursing home neglect in Springfield, MA? Call Cava Law Firm today at (413) 737-3430 or (413) 781-CAVA (2282) and schedule a free consultation with a Springfield nursing home neglect attorney.

Recovering Compensation for Nursing Home Neglect

An elderly nursing home resident should never have to experience neglect. Tragically, this neglect happens all too frequently. Sometimes, neglect is due to hiring underqualified workers. Other times, it is related to a lack of oversight and poor management. National nursing home staffing shortages mean that across the country nursing homes are struggling to provide residents with the care they need.

When nursing home neglect happens, a nursing home abuse lawyer can help build a case for negligence, identify case value, and help you recover personal injury compensation through the nursing home’s insurer. This compensation can be reimbursed for things like medical care costs and emotional damages.

In some cases, nursing home neglect can lead to serious health conditions, like infection. Lack of proper care might also result in injuries if the resident tries to do things for themselves that they should have had staff assistance with. When medical issues or injuries caused by nursing home neglect result in death, a nursing home abuse lawyer may be able to help you seek wrongful death compensation.

Speak With a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Springfield, MA

Winning Is NO Accident!

At Cava Law Firm, our personal injury law firm has fought for over three decades to help injured clients throughout Springfield, MA, to secure compensation for injuries caused by the negligence of others. Our skilled personal injury attorneys have recovered millions for our clients, and you owe us no fees unless we win your case. Let us review your nursing home neglect case and find out how we can help you recover the compensation you deserve during a free consultation.

Call Cava Law Firm today at (413) 737-3430 or (413) 781-CAVA (2282) to speak with a skilled Springfield, MA, nursing home neglect lawyer today.

Attorney Jennifer L. Cava-Foreman

Attorney Jennifer L. Cava-Foreman would like to take the guesswork out of choosing a lawyer by letting the facts and her winning verdicts speak for themselves. Attorney Cava-Foreman is known in the local courts and has firsthand experience with many types of cases ranging from personal injury to criminal defense. Attorney Cava-Foreman understands that every case and every client is different. Whether a client is injured or mixed up in a criminal matter, she will provide the legal advice needed and stand up for her client in court. [ Attorney Bio ]