When a family makes the decision to place their elderly loved one in a nursing home, they are putting all their trust in the management and employees of the facility to take proper care of their loved one, as well as treat them with respect and dignity. Unfortunately, that is not always the case and many elderly nursing home residents end up with serious injuries because of the neglect or even abuse they are subjected to. If your loved one has been injured because of nursing home negligence, consider talking to a nursing home neglect lawyer to see what legal recourse you may have.
Elderly Abuse and Neglect
The statistics on elder abuse and neglect are staggering. According to data from the National Council on Aging (NCOA), approximately five million seniors are victims of abuse each year. To add to that alarming information, one of every four seniors who are 65 years of age or older ends up at the hospital for treatment of fall-related injuries. Many of these falls occur at nursing homes – the very place elderly residents are supposed to be protected from these incidents.
Preventing Falls
The NCOA also provides data that shows that every 11 seconds, an elderly person suffers a fall serious enough that they need to go to the hospital. Because seniors are so susceptible to falls, caregivers need to do everything they can to protect their safety. They should be supervised, especially if they are on medications that can affect their balance or their coordination.
Nursing home staff especially need to be vigilant and diligent in their care for residents. Failure to monitor residents and ensure their safety is considered nursing home neglect, especially when that neglect results in the resident suffering injuries.
If your loved one is in a nursing home, there are steps you can take in order to be alerted to any red flags that indicate abuse or neglect.
Families want to make sure that they visit their loved ones on a regular basis. Keep in mind, whenever possible, to visit at different times and not at the same predictable time. When you visit, look for any bruises, abrasions, or any other physical signs that something is wrong. Watch for changes in their behavior or mood. Notice if there are any nursing home staff that your loved one acts uncomfortable around.
Contact a Nursing Home Lawyer for Legal Assistance
Sadly, no matter how careful a family is, there are situations that occur and their loved one suffers injuries from negligence or abuse. If your loved one has suffered a fall injury or other abuse or neglect, it is critical to contact an experienced attorney, like a nursing home neglect lawyer from a law firm like Davis & Brusca, LLC.