Nursing homes are meant to be places for our family members or loved ones to receive care they need for medical conditions or deteriorating health conditions. We expect caring, supportive staff who treat patients with respect.
Unfortunately, we sometimes hear heartbreaking stories of nursing home abuse and neglect that can cause us to worry if our loved one is being treated properly. Abuse and neglect in nursing homes are a form of negligence, and if our loved one sustains a nursing home injury due to this negligence, damages may be recovered. However, most of us would prefer to never have to get to that point.
Warning signs of a bad nursing home
There are many signs of a bad nursing home, some of which include:
- Lack of communication
- Lack of help with basic tasks
- Loneliness
A nursing home should respond to call requests or calls for help from patients immediately. Likewise, calls or messages from patient’s family members should be returned as soon as possible. If you are trying to reach a nursing home for an update on your loved one, and not getting a call back, it may be time to check out the nursing home.
Nursing home patients who need help with daily tasks such as eating should always receive it. Although many nursing homes are understaffed, that is not an excuse for neglecting patients, especially with things like daily meals. Patients who try to do things themselves that they should not be, could injure themselves.
Staff should be interacting with patients whenever possible. Patients should not be placed in front of a television, or in any other area where they do nothing but sit passively. Loneliness is a major issue in nursing homes, and if it seems like your loved one is not engaging in any activities, this could be a sign of neglect.
These signs of negligence increase the chance of a nursing home injury. Personal injury attorneys know how to prove negligence and obtain damages in the form of compensation.