Personal hygiene is an important aspect of providing proper care for residents in a nursing home. Staff members need to make sure elderly residents are caring for themselves properly, providing aid whenever needed.
If you believe your loved one may be suffering abuse at the hands of staff members at a nursing home, one of the signs you may notice is a lack of cleanliness. Your loved one may have unwashed hair, unexpected body odors, dirty and ragged fingernails, and unclean clothing.
When you suspect neglect or abuse is placing your loved one in danger at the nursing home, you need to defend his or her right to receive proper care. A Cicero poor hygiene lawyer, such as Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, can find the root cause of the problem and help you receive the compensation that your family deserves. Call us today for a free consultation.
Importance of Personal Hygiene
Cleanliness is a very important factor in running a nursing home properly. The Aging Health Journal reports that elderly residents of the nursing home are more susceptible to infections and illnesses than younger people, which further emphasizes the importance of cleanliness. Common infections in nursing homes, such as pressure ulcers and urinary tract infections, can result from issues of hygiene from both the patient and the caregiver.
When residents do not have good hygiene, it could lead to a spread of infections around the nursing home. Additionally, residents who are unable to clean themselves will have a lower level of self-esteem, which can leave them with a lower quality of life.
Signs of Poor Hygiene
Some residents of nursing homes can maintain their hygiene themselves. Others need more help with personal hygiene, such as a little bit of help to move in and out of a bathtub or shower.
Some may need help with all aspects of bathing and personal care, including the use of adult diapers. At an understaffed nursing home, staff members may skip some aspects of personal hygiene care, hoping to save time. However, this is a form of passive neglect, which is a type of abuse.
A Cicero poor hygiene lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help to figure out who is at fault for this type of neglect and abuse. Call our office today. We are ready to begin working on your case as soon as you hire us.
Common Hygiene Problems
If you suspect neglect and abuse at your loved one’s nursing home, pay attention to his or her hygiene. These can be clues to potential abuse occurring, meaning you and your loved one would have the right to receive awards for pain, suffering, and medical bills.
Some of the most common types of poor hygiene you may see when neglect is occurring at the nursing home include:
- Bedsores.
- Pressure ulcers.
- Urinary tract infections.
- Bacterial pneumonia.
- Rashes.
- Lice.
- Ringworm.
- Scabies.
- Skin infections.
- Dirty hair.
- Lack of teeth brushing.
Other hygiene problems may be noticeable too.
Sometimes, the signs of personal hygiene problems may not be easily visible, especially if the evidence is under clothing. However, you may notice things like body odor, dirty clothing, unkempt fingernails, or an odor of feces or urine in cases of personal hygiene neglect.
For a free legal consultation with a Poor Hygiene Lawyer serving Cicero, call (800) 794-0444
Reporting Abuse in a Nursing Home
Sometimes, signs of personal hygiene problems may not be a direct result of abuse. Perhaps your loved one is feeling depressed, leading to a reduction in personal hygiene care.
Even in times like this, though, the staff at the nursing home has a responsibility to help with the resident’s personal hygiene needs. Even if the resident does not want help, the staff needs to step in and insist.
Proper personal hygiene can help the resident avoid diseases or infections. If the staff fails to insist on the necessary level of hygiene for its residents, this could be a case of neglect and abuse.
How Should I Report Abuse?
Illinois state law, through the Adult Protective Services Act 320 ILCS 20/1, requires that those who deliver professional services in nursing homes and other care facilities must report any signs of abuse. Those who must report abuse include:
- Social services workers.
- Adult care professionals.
- Law enforcement officials.
- Educators.
- Medical professionals.
Even for those who are not professionals, it is important to report suspicions of abuse in a nursing home, regardless of whether you are a relative of the victim.
In the state of Illinois, you can contact the Illinois Department of Aging Adult Protective Services Hotline to report potential abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation at your loved one’s nursing home. If you witness abuse occurring, you should call law enforcement immediately to investigate. You also should report suspected abuse to the administration at the nursing home, who need to ensure the staff is following regulations.
Cicero Poor Hygiene Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Let Us Represent You in Negotiations
We know how the insurance company for a nursing home attempts to treat victims in cases like this. The insurer may not treat you and your loved one as fairly as it should, hoping you are willing to end the situation as quickly as possible.
However, it is important for you to fully fight for the rights of your loved one and for others at the nursing home who may be subject to similar types of abuse. Consider hiring the Cicero poor hygiene lawyers of Pintas & Mullins Law Firm in a case like this.
We do not shy away from tough cases. We are ready to stand by your side and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
Call Us for a Free Consultation
We will interview witnesses to the abuse, read medical and police reports, and review video surveillance to figure out all the parties that are liable for your loved one’s abuse.
Our team of Cicero poor hygiene lawyers can help present the facts in the case to show neglect or other abusive behavior that the nursing home could actively prevent. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free consultation.
Because we work on a contingency fee basis, you will pay nothing out of pocket and nothing up front. Once the case reaches a satisfactory settlement, our fee comes from the settlement.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
