If you have a relative living in a nursing home, you should have the peace of mind of knowing they are well taken care of by medical professionals and staff. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Lack of supervision is common in many nursing homes. Elderly individuals have specific medical conditions that need constant attention from the nursing home team.

If you notice the following signs when visiting your loved one, it is important to investigate the nursing home. Pay attention to your family member’s health to observe signs of a lack of supervision (or even neglect or abuse), such as:

• avoided questions by the nursing home staff
• complaints about a staff member
• poor response time or unanswered calls
• high nursing home staff turnover
• understaffing
• unexplained patient accidents or injuries
• patients are presenting scars, bedsores, bruises, etc.
• patients seem afraid or intimidated by some staff members
• the nursing home reports frequent accidents, trips, slips, falls, etc.
• the nursing home has been investigated by patients’ family members, attorneys, city or state authorities, etc.

You may also notice that your relative is not being monitored if you visit your loved one and go long periods without seeing a staff member come to check on the patient. If you feel something is wrong, take the proper action to file a report.

If you suspect that a loved one is not being properly cared for in a nursing home or want to initiate legal action against the nursing home or a staff member, talk to a nursing home abuse lawyer. The team of professional attorneys can evaluate all aspects of your case and let you know if your family is entitled to a settlement. Schedule your consultation as soon as possible so you can submit all necessary evidence on time and receive the compensation you need to care for the people you love the most properly.

Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

Nursing home staff may not intentionally neglect residents. However, there are times when neglect is caused in situations that may be difficult or impossible to control. For example, nursing homes that are over-capacity and understaffed cannot always attend to patients properly. However, the facility is still responsible for caring for patients according to the Nursing Home Reform Act and state guidelines.

On the other hand, nursing home abuse is intentional, and patients can endure several types of abuse simultaneously. Abuse can include financial and emotional abuse and can come from other nursing home residents, caretakers, or facility employees. These cases are more common than many people would expect. According to the US Justice Department, almost 10% of adults older than 65 will experience some type of neglect or abuse during any given year.

Effects of a Nursing Homes’ Lack of Monitoring

Nursing home residents can suffer due to facility understaffing and poorly trained employees. If the facility does not provide an acceptable ratio of patients to staff members, patients may not promptly receive their medication or meals. This can have a devastating impact on seniors already suffering from chronic health problems. In addition, when patients are not cared for consistently, they are also at greater risk of developing bedsores.

Patients are also more likely to injure themselves if they try to walk around or take care of daily tasks themselves. There are also cases in which other residents abuse nursing home residents if the staff is not watching either patient.

Why Poor Treatment In Nursing Homes is Dangerous

When patients are not properly cared for in a nursing home, this can lead to serious injury or even death. While some injuries are minor, others can be severe or life-threatening. In addition, neglect, abuse, and overall poor treatment can impact the physical and emotional health of your loved one.

You may also have to cover medical bills for injuries or additional illnesses your relative has suffered due to poor supervision while in a nursing home.

If your loved one has been left unsupervised for extended periods and has suffered a decline in health, this could be a form of neglect. You should look into taking legal action to protect your relative and hold the nursing home accountable.

About the author:

As a journalist, Leland Bengtson dedicated most of his career to law reporting. His greatest satisfaction is to convey legal matters to the public in a language that they can understand. He is active on various platforms and media outlets, writing about common legal issues that people confront with every day. While medical malpractice is his strong suit, Leland covers plenty of other topics, including personal injury cases, family law, and other civil and even criminal legal matters.