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Health & Fitness

5 Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Watch for the signs to protect your loved ones.

We never want to think that the place we’ve entrusted to care for our loved ones is a dangerous environment, but sadly that is sometimes the case. Nursing home abuse is a real and horrific problem; even more so because some victims are unable to report it themselves. While we are not able to watch over our loved ones at all times, we can be on the lookout for some of the most common signs of nursing home abuse and negligence.

# 1: Bedsores

Bedsores, also as known as “pressure sores” or “decubitus ulcers,” can be a telling sign of nursing home neglect. Bedsores are caused by poor nutrition, humidity, friction and unrelieved pressure on the skin. They often occur when patients are left in one position for an extended period of time. Due to the constant pressure, nutrients are not properly delivered and the tissue dies. The sores can range in severity, and typically fall into one of four categories:

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  • Stage 1: A red area, sometimes irregularly shaped, appears on the skin and does not fade for 30 minutes after alleviating the pressure.
  • Stage 2: As the skin begins to open, the sore becomes an open wound; it may resemble a blister, scrape or shallow crater.
  • Stage 3: The skin has worn away to the point where the fatty tissue layer is exposed. At this stage, the sore is typically black but it can also appear hard red or white.
  • Stage 4: The damage extends beyond the layer of fat and destroys the muscle layer underneath, exposing bones, tendons and other supporting structures.

In the advanced stages where the skin has worn away, bedsores can lead to infection. The areas where bedsores most frequently occur include the back, buttocks, elbows, hips, knees, feet and heels.

# 2: Weight Loss

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Because weight loss can arise from a number of factors and be easily written off as part of the aging process, it is often the least obvious sign of nursing home abuse. Naturally, proper nutrition and hydration are essential maintaining one’s health. Without adequate nutrition, the body metabolizes its fat stores, and then its own muscles; this is referred to as “cachexia” or “wasting syndrome.” Due to certain medications, sensory loss, or simply sub-par food, residents may lose their appetite; this may go unnoticed if the patient is left unattended at meals.

# 3: Unexplained Injuries

Bruises and an “injury of unknown origin” can be signs of physical abuse. They are categorized as such when they meet the following two conditions:

  • The injury cannot be explained by the resident or  nobody witnessed the origin of the injury
  • The location or severity of the injury makes it appear suspicious

Bruises along the wrist can also indicate the use of restraints. Nursing homes are required to report these injuries to the Department of Health as soon as they are discovered.

# 4: Falls

Falls can lead to serious, sometimes fatal injuries among the elderly. By law, nursing home management is required to develop a care plan in order to reduce the risk of falls. In a negligent environment, however, little is done to prevent these incidents; factors such as wet floors, poor lighting, improper bed height and poorly fitted wheelchairs only contribute to the problem.

Sometimes, restraints are used to prevent falls. But this method should not always be necessary, as there are many ways to reduce the risk of falling. Nursing homes can offer physical conditioning and walking programs, lower bed heights, free up clutter around the bed, install raised toilet seats and handrails and replace ill-fitting wheelchairs and furniture.  

# 5: Inattentive Staff

This is most common complaint among nursing home abuse lawsuits, and understandably so. Nursing home residents are dependent on the staff, and their inattentiveness has a direct impact on the residents’ well-being. Basic hygiene, nutrition and signs of illness can be overlooked if staff members are not focused enough on their patient.    

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