When you must find a suitable nursing home for a family member, it can be one of the most stressful and emotional decisions you will ever make. There are so many nursing home and assisted living options in Nipomo. How do you narrow down the right one, and what course of action do you take if your loved one is harmed? Abuse is a growing problem in nursing homes all around the United States. If you suspect that someone at their nursing home has harmed your family member, you need to speak with an experienced Nipomo nursing home abuse and neglect attorney right away.
The attorneys at the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group specialize in suspected abuse and neglect cases in San Luis Obispo County, including those from homes in Nipomo. Given how serious these cases are, you need a law firm with years of experience with protection laws, like the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act. Our legal team has handled hundreds of cases and are here to help with your Nipomo nursing home abuse case.
Potential Signs of Abuse to Watch for in a Nipomo Nursing HomeIdentifying the warning signs of neglect and/or abuse are extremely important. You know your family member better than the nursing home staff. Try to monitor how your loved one is doing on each visit and keep notes. Are there any unexplained injuries or marks on their wrists? How clean is their room? Familiarize yourself with all the potential signs of nursing home abuse. If you suspect something is wrong, contact an attorney right away.
Several types of abuse are common in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The main four are physical abuse, caregiver neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.
Physical Abuse: Look for unexplained cuts, bruises, and wounds. Check for marks around the wrists that could indicate the overuse of restraints. Ask questions if your family member sustained a questionable broken bone. If you don’t like the answers you are getting, it is time to call an attorney.
Caregiver Neglect: Any unexpected injury or illness that causes a change in condition might be a sign of neglect. Neglect is often seen in bed sores, falls, malnutrition, a failure to respond to the call button, and a failure to provide appropriate medical care.
Sexual Abuse: Check for unexplained wounds around the genital area or positive test of any STDs or STIs. It is hard to comprehend, but younger patients are at risk for pregnancy during an episode of sexual abuse.
Emotional Abuse: Emotional or psychological abuse can involve repeated episodes of intimidation, demeaning comments, threats, harassment, and more.
There are also non-physical signs that could point to potential abuse or neglect. These signs include severe mood changes, sudden depression, fear, anxiety, withdrawal, etc. If you notice a significant difference in your loved one’s demeanor and attitude, you will want to start looking further into what is going on. These could point to signs of neglect or abuse.
What is Considered Nursing Home Neglect?Neglect in nursing homes differs from nursing home abuse. However, both are still extremely harmful to a resident. When the nursing home is not administering the proper care and attention, it can be neglect. Examples include not giving a patient their necessary medications, or not helping with daily hygiene routines. It can also mean not providing them with sufficient food and water or giving them essential medical treatment.
Neglect crosses the line into abuse is when the staff member’s actions become intentional. Neglect is when they forget to give a patient their nightly dose of medications. Abuse is when the staff member makes a conscious decision not to feed the patient as some form of punishment. Bedsores and other wounds can point to either abuse or neglect. When the staff is not moving an immobile patient regularly or giving them daily baths, they are at risk of developing bedsores, infections, and more.
When you are checking on the level of care your family member receives, be sure to monitor the room conditions. Does someone empty the trash regularly? Are food trays removed, or is there old food left sitting around? Check to see if the sheets and towels are clean. These could also be signs of abuse or neglect.
Contact a Skilled Nipomo Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse AttorneyOur practice is devoted to protecting your family members from abuse and neglect in nursing homes around California. It is not enough to catch the abuse and move your family member to another facility. Nursing homes need to be held accountable for their actions. If you have questions or believe your family member is the victim of abuse, speak to our Nipomo nursing home neglect and abuse attorneys. Contact the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group today at (866) 607-1325 or use our online contact form to schedule an initial consultation.