Neglect is one of the most common forms of elder abuse in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Many factors go into exploring what is considered nursing home neglect, but generally speaking, it simply involves staff failing to meet a resident’s basic needs.
When an elderly resident is a victim of nursing home neglect, they can experience harm, injury, certain medical conditions, and more. Nursing home neglect can happen due to a number of reasons, such as the facility being understaffed. When a long-term facility is understaffed, each member of the staff may be overworked and overwhelmed, causing them to intentionally or unintentionally forget or delay residents’ daily care.
If you believe that an elderly loved one has been neglected in their nursing home or long-term care facility or you have evidence that neglect has occurred, we can help. A top West Palm Beach elder abuse attorney at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath wants to meet with you during a free case evaluation – chat with us online, send us a message, or call 561-655-1990 to get in touch with our team.
Types of Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect encompasses the neglect of a resident at any type of long-term care facility, such as a nursing home, assisted living center, memory care home, independent living facility, and more. Any member of the medical care team or nursing home staff can be held liable in the event of a lawsuit.
Common types of nursing home neglect that happen at long-term care facilities include:
- Neglect of hygiene
- Basic needs are not met, such as food, water, and a clean living space
- Neglect of medical needs
- Social neglect
- Emotional neglect
- Medical neglect, such as forgetting to administer medication
Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
It can be very difficult to detect when a loved one is being neglected in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or another elderly care facility. Many times, elderly people do not file complaints on their own, and a family member must take action.
If you are concerned about a loved one being neglected, there are some signs that can point to nursing home neglect, such as:
- Physical malnourishment
- Unclean living spaces
- Signs of improper hygiene
- Weight loss or muscle loss
- Medical conditions worsening
- Mental illnesses
Neglect can come in many forms. Residents may not be getting enough exercise, or they may not have many opportunities for socialization. Medications may be missed, or care staff may not be ensuring that the resident is adequately nourished with food and water.
No matter the type of neglect, Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath want to hear about your case and answer any questions you may have. Chat with us live or send us a message now.
Why does nursing home neglect happen?
Nursing home neglect often comes down to management issues. A nursing home’s operations may be inadequate due to understaffing, low pay, lack of training, lack of management, staff shortages, and more.
Long-term care facilities have standards to follow defined in Florida Statute 400.022, Residents’ rights. One or more of these aspects of the statute may be violated in cases of nursing home neglect.
Understaffing and mismanagement cause forgetfulness or judgment errors, but nursing home neglect is not always due to management issues. Individual members of the care staff may have personal issues that cause them to not perform their job up to standard. Individual residents may also clash with other residents or care team members, causing issues that lead to neglect. A member of the staff may be frustrated and take their frustration out on a resident.
Meet With an Elder Abuse Attorney in a Free Consultation
Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath has a history of success in nursing home neglect cases and isn’t afraid to go to trial when needed. Our nursing home neglect lawyers help you claim damages for nursing home neglect, whether wrongful death or personal injury-related. We can help you get justice for the losses you and your loved ones have experienced.
We have a top Boca Raton elder abuse attorney that would love to help you find the best path forward for your nursing home neglect case, no matter the details involved. We can answer any questions you might have, and you don’t pay until we win.
Get a free, no-obligation consultation at your convenience – call 561-655-1990, chat with us online, or send us a message to get in touch with a team member today!
