Nursing Home Negligence Injuries
ach year the NECA estimates that thousands of elderly people suffer injuries caused by nursing home negligence. In essence, neglect is defined as a failure to meet the basic needs of an individual in your care. As attested to in the news, nursing homes are notorious for hiring under qualified and inexperienced caregivers to take care of those entrusted to them.
While nursing homes are not the only places where negligence against the elderly occurs, they are the most scrutinized because they are often regulated by state and federal agencies. Data about negligence and abuse is more readily attainable from nursing home facilities. Nursing home residents have rights given to them by the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987, guaranteeing them a safe and healthy environment.
There are three broad categories of neglect.
- Active neglect — Willful acts of negligent behavior is categorized as active neglect. Basically withholding needed care from somebody on purpose.
- Passive neglect — Unintentional acts of neglect due to lack of training or poor resident to caregiver ratio.
- Self-neglect — The refusal of the victim to receive necessary care or treatment. This type of neglect has no perpetrator.
A variety of injures can be sustained due to either active or passive neglect of nursing home workers. It is important to understand the signs of abuse and identify problems early enough to prevent serious injury or death.
Dehydration
Many elderly people who are relegated to a nursing home lack the faculty to inform their caregiver of their needs. Since the resident cannot or does not request water when they need it, a negligent caregiver may fail to keep the resident adequately hydrated.
Nursing homes that are short-staffed, or employ under qualified workers may ignore a patients drinking schedule and allow residents to go thirsty, even to the point where it cause injury.
Some symptoms of dehydration include headache, dizziness, decreased blood pressure, and increased delirium. Symptoms can occur if as little as 2 percent of normal water volume is lost.
Bed sores
Patients who are bed-ridden require frequent turning in order to prevent bed sores, also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers. Bed sores develop in the bony prominences of the body with decreased circulation. Bed ridden patients should be turned at least every two hours to prevent pressure sores from developing.
Bed sores occur in stages that range from redness in the bony prominences to open ulcers, to necrotic or dead tissues. If left untreated it may lead to sepsis, which is a general systemic infection that may be fatal. Decubitus ulcers are painful and difficult to cure, but easy enough to prevent through adequate care.
Choking
Many elderly people have difficulty swallowing pills and food. Inattentive caregivers who leave someone alone to take their medication leave the resident susceptible to choking. Busy caregivers trying to feed a several residents during a meal may try to rush them through eating, causing them to choke.
There are obvious injuries that occur as a result of choking, discomfort, fainting and even death, but there are other side effects as well. A person with a history of choking, may refuse to take his or her medications, causing a deterioration of another part of their health because they fear they may choke on their medications again.
Aspiration
Patients who are forced to eat or drink may end up aspirating the food or liquid, which means that it enters the trachea or lungs. Aspirated material can lead to aspiration pneumonia or an infection of the lungs caused by the foreign object. Caregivers need to understand and observe swallowing precautions on all patients, especially those who are more susceptible to aspiration.
Falling
Patients left unattended or unassisted during normal activities such as showering, getting into or out of bed, or even going to the bathroom may be injured in a fall. Falling is one of the most common injuries and one of the most easily preventable through adequate resident care.
Restraint injury
Physical and medical restraints are highly regulated by state and federal agencies. Their use must be prescribed by a physician. Inadequate restraints can lead to physical harm including falling or injury to restrained limbs. Medication used to restrain patients must be considered when used in conjunction with other medications.
This is not a complete list of the possible injuries that can be sustained from nursing home negligence. If you or someone you love was injured while in the care of a nursing home, you may be eligible for compensation for damages. Please visit our resources page to find a nursing home abuse lawyer in your area, or contact us for a free claim evaluation. You don't pay unless you recover damages; no recovery. No fee.