Best Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Why Does Elder Neglect Occur?
Elder abuse and neglect are real problems in the United States. The elderly are easy targets for mental, physical, financial and even sexual abuse because often their symptoms go unnoticed or are written off as symptoms of aging.
Aside from the elderly being easy targets for neglect, a few factors create a perfect storm for with neglect and abuse to occur. For example, the nursing home in which they are being cared for could be totally understaffed. Or it is possible that the staff is not qualified to carry out their responsibilities and so they either no not complete them at all or complete them incorrectly. It is also possible that the employees were not put through the proper background checks. Finally, the facility may not be up to date with equipment and may not pass health standards.
When you decide to place your loved one in an elder care facility or nursing home, you entrust their care to professionals. It can seem impossible that those very people you trusted are hurting or neglecting your loved one. Knowing the symptoms and being able to identify them is an important first step.
If you suspect that your loved one is being abused or neglected, it is important that you speak up for them. Elderly people often do not report their own abuse or neglect, and so it is up to you to intervene when you notice any of the symptoms. You can also help yourself and your loved one by calling best nursing home abuse attorney.
Some of the more common physical symptoms of elder neglect are…Preventable injuries, bedsores or pressure ulcers, malnutrition, dehydration, unexplained weight loss or gain, changes in personal hygiene or environmental hazards from an unclean environment.
Mental symptoms include… Depression and anxiety, unusual changes in behavior, withdrawn behavior, lack of friendly interaction (whether with family, staff or other residents) and mood swings.
This is not a comprehensive list, but understanding the signs and symptoms so that you can easily identify them is key in early interaction.
One symptom of elder neglect that can lead to serious harm are bed sores. Bed sores are one of the most common problems that occur as a result of neglect. The occur because the caregiver or nursing home staff neglects to turn a patient so that they are not constantly lying in the same spot on their back. Not only are they painful, but they can progress to such a stage that the elderly patient can cause infection which, in the absolute worst case, can lead to death.