Neglect is a serious issue that occurs more frequently in nursing home facilities than people may realize, and family members who think something is wrong with their relatives’ care may contact a Burbank, CA nursing home abuse lawyer for help. The improper care of residents in a nursing home is shockingly commonplace when it shouldn’t be. In fact, there are estimates from the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) that around 95% of residents have either witnessed neglect or been a victim of it themselves. We know that reading this statistic is unlikely to bring reassurance, especially if you think your loved one could be enduring neglect at this very moment. But what is important to know is that there are legal professionals, such as the team at Glotzer & Leib, LLP, who know how to intervene immediately.
When caring for residents, caregivers and other staff must help with basic personal hygiene. Residents may need assistance getting dressed, clipping nails, brushing their teeth, combing hair, and other tasks. When someone is neglected, they may be left to fend for themselves and unable to accomplish these things on their own. A resident may not be capable of doing so and without assistance could go a prolonged period of time without being clean.
Take a look around your loved one’s living space. Is it dirty? Does the floor look like it hasn’t been swept or mopped in a long time? Is your relative living in the same clothes for days at a time or have bed sheets that need changing? As a Burbank nursing home abuse lawyer explains, unsanitary living spaces can be a red flag that there is not enough staff to attend to each resident, or that the caregivers lack the compassion required to stay on top of their tasks.
All residents should be given the opportunity to socialize with other residents or spend time with their visitors. Neglect can happen if staff fail to help a resident get themselves to fun activities at the nursing home or somehow prevent relatives from visiting. Other forms of neglect could entail leaving a resident who is wheelchair-bound in the hallway or secluded location for extended periods of time. All in all, if staff is hindering your loved one’s ability to socialize, that is a problem that could have negative effects on their mental health and well-being.
There are many other signs that nursing home neglect could be happening to your loved one. If fall injuries, pressure ulcers (bedsores), unexplained bruises or cuts, infections, sudden emergency room trips, decreased appetite, worsening mental function, or other odd changes in your relative’s health are present, then now is the time to get support from a Burbank nursing home abuse lawyer. At Glotzer & Leib, LLP, you can trust that we know how to handle a situation like this and come to the aid of your family member immediately. Call or email us as soon as possible for the help you need.