When your loved one lives in a nursing home, you expect that they will be cared for. It should give you peace of mind to see your elderly relative happy and healthy in the nursing home you have selected. You should not leave visits feeling worried and uncomfortable.
Your relative may have a disability and not be capable of relaying neglecting or abusive treatment. You may just notice an overall decrease in their morale and/or appearance. Conversely, your relative may be able to tell you about the abuse but is afraid to do so. If there is something suspicious, it may be worth investigating.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we understand your concern and empathize with your need to know that the nursing home you have chosen to care for your elderly family member is safe and nurturing. If you are in this situation, an Atlanta odd actions on the part of the staff lawyer might be able to support you in uncovering the reason for odd behaviors. If you hire us to handle your case, we can pursue compensation for your loved one’s injuries on your and their behalf. We offer clients free, no-obligation consultations.
To learn more about how we can help you, give Pintas & Mullins Law Firm a call today at (800) 842-6336.
Mistreatment by Nursing Home Staff
Mistreatment in nursing homes is categorized into two types: abuse and neglect. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) defines abuse as intentionally inflicting pain or punishment on another, which leads to physical wounds and/or mental anguish. Neglect is when one fails to provide proper care for another.
Unfortunately, nursing home mistreatment is common. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), researchers found that in one study, more than half of the nursing home staff confessed to hurting or neglecting elderly residents. It states the fact of mistreatment from the nursing home staff themselves. They have identified some common types of abuse and neglect seen in nursing homes.
Types of Mistreatment
- Physical violence
- Mental, psychological, and/or emotional abuse
- Gross neglect
- Financial exploitation
- Elder-to-elder abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- Stolen medication
Indicators of Abuse or Neglect
For those who cannot or are unwilling to communicate their abuse, family members should be attentive to any changes in their loved one’s demeanor, emotional state, physical condition, and surroundings.
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm so our Atlanta odd actions on the part of staff lawyer can discuss any of the following if you might be considering filing a case for your loved one. They can help you identify other possible indications of elder abuse.
Some of these include:
- Anxiousness
- Depression
- Lack of confidence
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Fear of being touched
- Social withdraw
- Disheveled appearance, dirty clothes, bedsheets
- Poor hygiene
- Noticing objects missing from your loved one’s room or person, such as jewelry
- Indications that their medication is not being properly administered, such as too much remaining medication, missing pill bottles, etc. Nursing home staff will sometimes overmedicate patients to avoid having to tend to their needs or behavior. Other times, nursing home staff can steal patient medications, leaving the patient untreated and in a declining medical state.
- Infections or lack of proper wound care and medical treatment
- Rapid or noticeable weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration
For a free legal consultation with a Odd Actions on the Part of the Staff Lawyer serving Atlanta, call (800) 794-0444
Odd and Worrisome Behaviors of Nursing Home Staff
- Awkward conversations with staff, evading questions, or not able to explain specific details about how your loved one is spending their time
- Blaming your loved one for their disheveled appearance, bad hygiene, or refusing care
- Observing mistreatment of other patients, verbal abuse, shaming behaviors, yelling, hitting, etc.
- Observing patients retaliating against or acting afraid of staff members
- Noticing patients are ignored, call buttons are ignored, or patients who seem to need or are waiting for help
- Feeling like staff will not give you privacy with your loved one, such as continually interrupting or remaining in the room during your visit
- Interactions between staff members that make you feel uncomfortable, like unkind conversations about residents, high demonstration of frustration, and/or shared intolerance
- Lack of staff at the front desk or unattended rooms, such as the cafeteria in case of choking or need of urgent care, or where needy patients need supervision
- Unusually high patient to staff ratio
- Congregated staff in areas leaving patients unattended
- Not assisting the elderly who need help eating and clearing their plate before helping them
If you have seen an overall decline in your loved one’s condition, that could be an indication that something is wrong. A nursing home is entrusted with keeping your relative happy, healthy, well taken care of, and nurtured. If you find yourself questioning the situation, that is sufficient grounds for taking a closer look.
Atlanta Odd Actions on the Part of the Staff Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Assist You
If you need help investigating a nursing home or determining whether suspicious behaviors on the part of the nursing home staff might be grounds for one, call us today for a free consultation at (800) 842-6336. An Atlanta odd actions on the part of the staff lawyer might be able to help you file an insurance claim or lawsuit for your loved one. If Pintas & Mullins Law Firm represents you and your family member, we charge nothing unless we win your case, as we work on a contingency fee basis.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
