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Abused Seniors More Likely to Die in Nursing Homes
Could a Kentucky Nursing Home Resident Die Because of Abuse or Neglect?
Before you placed your loved one in a nursing home, you likely toured the facility to make sure it met with your standards. However, many such places will clean up their acts during visiting days, only to have their lax standards return when the families go home.
Investigators in Arkansas recently identified a number of “red flag” conditions and behaviors that are commonly associated with elder mistreatment. These include specific characteristics of the facility, the physical condition of the patient, and behaviors of the staff and administrators.
A few common signs that may indicate elder neglect or abuse are:
- Undocumented injuries (including fractures or bruises)
- Documented but untreated injuries
- Multiple occurrences of untreated pressure sores
- Disregard for medical orders
- Poor hygiene of residents (including soiled beds and untrimmed fingernails)
- Lack of proper resident dental care
- Ailing, drugged, or malnourished residents
- Presence of bruises on residents who cannot walk
- Bruising in unusual locations or in an unnatural pattern
- Family complaints and evidence of past improper care
- Substandard care for residents whose family members do not visit often
- Unchanged bed linens
- Strong odors of urine or feces
- Overflowing or irregularly emptied trash cans
- Rotting food problems (including meals left in rooms for multiple hours)
- Past problems with staff members or resident abuse
- Incomplete or inconsistent findings in patient medical records
- Inconsistencies in statements given by different people (such as the family, staff, and administrators)
- Suspicious circumstances surrounding a death (such as the reported time of expiration and condition of the body)
Unfortunately, many cases of elder mistreatment go unreported due to lack of communication between the family and resident (such as when the patient is in a coma or has dementia). Even after a loved one has died as result of nursing home abuse, the medical officer will often rule that the death was accidental unless the family requests an abuse investigation.
Has Your Loved One Been Injured In A Nursing Home?
If you believe your loved one is being subjected to nursing home abuse you need to speak with an experienced Kentucky nursing home neglect attorney as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our office directly at 888.450.4456 to schedule a free consultation.