Common Forms of Nursing Home Neglect and What You Can Do About It

Often, it’s a last resort when we can no longer provide the advanced care our loved ones need and deserve. When we admit them into nursing homes, we expect trained staff to provide what we can’t. However, that doesn’t always happen. 

 According to the World Health Organization, neglect and abuse is a growing problem. Understanding the different types of neglect can put you on high alert for noticing problems with your loved ones’ care. Most neglect falls into the following categories: 

Medical Neglect

The family members of loved ones in care homes often choose to meet with an injury lawyer after suspecting medical neglect. Typically, this neglect occurs when a care facility’s employees don’t meet their residents’ healthcare needs. There can be many alarming forms of medical neglect, such as: 

● Not administering the right medications at the right times

● Not providing adequate care for specific health problems like dementia

● Not moving residents with mobility limitations frequently, increasing the risk of bedsores

● Failing to report signs of illnesses, infections, and other health changes to healthcare professionals 

Medical neglect can be severe, with some cases resulting in life-threatening and entirely avoidable illnesses, such as infections and sepsis. If you suspect medical neglect, voice your concerns to nursing home management. They can be your first port of call. Failing that, contact law enforcement and a personal injury lawyer specializing in nursing home neglect. 

Basic Living Neglect

We all deserve to have the necessities of life. Many people put their loved ones into care when they worry about them not being able to care for themselves at a basic level. While it’s only natural to assume that care homes will take care of basic living needs, that doesn’t always happen. Basic living neglect describes a nursing home not providing its residents with: 

● A comfortable living environment

● A clean living environment

● Adequate food and water 

Such neglect should be taken seriously, especially since the repercussions can be severe. Studies have shown that patients admitted to hospitals from care homes are often dehydrated and at a greater risk of in-hospital mortality than those admitted from their own homes. 

Personal Hygiene Neglect

You might admit your loved one into a care home when they can no longer manage their hygiene. However, there are also no guarantees that a care home will either. Personal hygiene neglect is a common cause of neglect, with some care home workers failing to check in on residents often, change their clothing and bedding frequently, and bathe them correctly. 

Social Neglect

We all know that social relationships and health are linked. Yet, social neglect is still a problem in care homes throughout the world. Care home workers can neglect their residents’ social needs when they fail to provide mobility aids, don’t move residents with mobility problems, and isolate vulnerable residents.   

Nursing home neglect shouldn’t be common, but it is. Many residents and their families have found themselves the victims due to care home failures, industry shortcomings, and systemic failures. Take action if you’ve noticed any of these forms of neglect above. Reporting what you’ve witnessed and seeking legal help might save lives and improve health outcomes.