Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing home staff serve as essential caregivers for elderly individuals who require assistance with daily activities and medical needs. While many of these facilities provide compassionate care and support, instances of neglect can occur, posing significant risks to the health and well-being of residents.

Let’s explore the issue of nursing home neglect, including its causes, signs, and steps that families and caregivers can take to prevent this type of treatment and also address it effectively.

Understanding Types of Neglect That Happens in Nursing Homes

Per this article published by the National Library of Medicine, the definition of neglect is “the refusal or failure of a caregiver to fulfill his or her obligations or duties to an older person, including …. providing any food, clothing, medicine, shelter, supervision, and medical care and services that a prudent person would deem essential for the well-being of another.”

Neglectful treatment can take various forms, including:

• Physical neglect: An example of this may be if a staff member fails to provide assistance with personal hygiene or mobility. Also, any neglect that leads to nursing home residents becoming dehydrated or malnourished or a situation where a lack of supervision results in a resident wandering from their facility may constitute neglect.
• Emotional neglect: Ignoring residents’ emotional needs or isolating them from social interactions may be an example of emotional abuse or neglect.
• Medical neglect: Included in this category may be a failure to administer medications or provide necessary medical treatments, and errors in administering medications, such as giving diabetic nursing home residents an incorrect dose of insulin.

Causes of Neglectful Treatment of Residents

Several factors can contribute to the occurrence of neglect in nursing homes. One of the most glaring ones is often staffing issues like understaffing, inadequate training, and a lack of supervision of staff members. Budgetary constraints and lack of regulatory oversight often contribute to the occurrence of the latter. High staff turnover rates and burnout can also impact the quality of care provided to residents.

Poor management practices, insufficient resources, and systemic issues within the health care system can further increase a nursing home resident’s risk of being neglected.

Preventing Nursing Home Neglect

Reducing or eliminating neglect in nursing homes requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders involved in elder care. Nursing home administrators should prioritize adequate staffing levels, provide ongoing training and support for staff members, and implement robust quality assurance measures to ensure the safety and well-being of residents.

Families and caregivers can be proactive and minimize the chance of a resident being neglected by visiting their loved ones regularly, communicating openly with staff members, and advocating for their rights and needs.

What To Do If You Suspect Your Loved One Is Being Neglected

When faced with the possibility of nursing home neglect involving a loved one, you will want to take action.

First, you need to file complaints with the appropriate governmental agency. Depending on your state, there are regulatory agencies responsible for overseeing nursing homes, such as the state health department. You can also lodge complaints with federal agencies, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), or reach out to Adult Protective Services (APS). These agencies will investigate abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults.

Along with filing complaints, families can take legal action by contacting a nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer to inquire about filing an insurance claim or civil lawsuit. Since there are statutes of limitations for taking legal action, you will want to act quickly.

If your loved one suffered from severe neglect, intentional harm, or abuse, you might want to report the issue to law enforcement. These cases could result in the perpetrator facing criminal charges. If proven guilty, individuals responsible for neglect or abuse could face fines, imprisonment, and loss of professional licensure.

When you know your legal options and take the appropriate steps, you can hold nursing homes accountable for neglect. In cases where neglectful treatment has occurred, it’s crucial to take swift and decisive action to address the issue and prevent further harm to residents.

Take Action To Protect Loved Ones from Neglect

Recognizing the signs that neglect is occurring in a nursing home is essential for identifying and addressing potential issues promptly. Family members and caregivers should remain vigilant and proactive in monitoring their loved one’s well-being, and any concerns or suspicions a person is being neglected should be reported and investigated promptly.

Nursing home neglect is a serious concern that demands attention and action from all parties involved in elder care.

By understanding the causes and signs of this, implementing preventive measures, and taking prompt action to address issues as they arise, we can work together to ensure the safety and well-being of nursing home residents.

Together, we can create a culture of accountability and compassion within elder care facilities, where residents are treated with the respect and quality of care they deserve.

You can learn more about how you can help your loved one by contacting us by phone or through our convenient online form.