Common Injuries from Nursing Home Neglect (Part A)

When your loved one's ailments become too complicated for you to handle, you might have to turn to a nursing home. After you research many facilities and pick one that you believe will provide optimum care, you might still have concerns about nursing home neglect, a topic that continues to make headlines.

Although many nursing homes provide exceptional service, there are many that don't. Therefore, you should be ever vigilant when visiting your loved one in a nursing home and if you ever suspect nursing home neglect, you should take action by consulting with a Louisville nursing home neglect attorney.

When nursing home neglect occurs, your loved one's risk of ailments will increase. Some common signs of nursing home neglect are discussed below.

Nursing Home Neglect: Falls

If your loved one is not properly observed, they could fall and sustain bone fractures, especially if they have osteoporosis or suffer from malnutrition. In a poorly staffed or improperly run facility, such a fall may take time to discover, which only exacerbates the injuries.

Such falls can occur when staff members fail to properly monitor patients or provide timely assistance for such things as helping with trips to the restroom. In this instance, a Louisville nursing home neglect attorney may be able to help you file a Kentucky nursing home neglect claim.

Nursing Home Neglect: Suffocation and Strangulation

If there is too much space between the mattress and the bedrail, your loved one could become trapped in that space, especially if they have dementia or suffer from malnutrition. Up to 30 deaths have occurred in nursing homes each year because of this.

The nursing home has the responsibility to make sure that the mattress size is adequate for the bed frame. Failure to do this is yet another incident that could lead to a Kentucky nursing home neglect claim.

Nursing Home Neglect: Bedsores

If your loved one spends much of their time in bed and unattended, they could suffer from bedsores, also known as decubitus ulcers and pressure ulcers. Bedsores can be mild, with redness and irritation or severe, with damage to the skin, muscle, tissue and bone.

Severe bedsores are a surefire sign of nursing home neglect, as they result from inadequate care. For example, nursing home staff members are required to turn and reposition patients at least every 2 hours to prevent bedsores. Additionally, many facilities have been fined and cited because of bedsores. Severe bedsores should definitely be brought to the attention of a Louisville nursing home neglect attorney.

An experienced Louisville nursing home neglect attorney has handled many cases and will do everything possible to help you fight for damages for your loved one's injuries.

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