Few things are more disconcerting than visiting a loved one in a nursing home only to discover them in soiled clothes and unsanitary living conditions. The decision to move a family member into a nursing home facility is rarely made lightly. Families do so with expectations of round-the-clock care, respect for personal dignity, and dedication to their loved one’s physical and emotional well-being. Finding out that the opposite is true can be a devastating experience.
If your elderly loved one is suffering from an illness or injury or lost their life because of nursing home neglect, you may be entitled to financial compensation. A Fort Worth soiled clothes or other signs of poor hygiene lawyer can work with your family to determine if you have a viable case, collect evidence, and litigate on your behalf if needed. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 842-6336 for a free consultation.
Hygiene and Health for Senior Citizens
Poor hygiene goes beyond being unsightly or off-putting for those over the age of 65. The effects of unsanitary living conditions and poor personal hygiene can be exceptionally dangerous for the elderly population. The typically compromised immune systems in seniors facilitate a rapid spread of infections that can be harmful or even fatal.
Common illnesses associated with poor hygiene in seniors include:
- Pneumonia
- Bedsores
- Respiratory infections
- Urinary tract and gastrointestinal Illnesses
- Staph, skin, and tissue infections
With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that up to 3 million serious infections occur every year in nursing homes, the need for proper hygiene and sanitary living conditions is paramount.
Signs of Poor Hygiene and Neglect in Nursing Homes
As your loved one’s primary advocate, understanding the signs of poor hygiene is critical. These include:
- Soiled bed sheets or clothing
- Unchanged diapers
- Unwashed and unkempt appearance
- Unsanitary common areas, bedrooms, and bathrooms
- Foul odors
- Bedsores and other recurring infections
If your elderly loved one is showing signs of poor hygiene and you suspect nursing home neglect, you are not alone. The state of Texas has enacted a number of legal statutes to protect you and your family. A Fort Worth soiled clothes or other signs of poor hygiene lawyer with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can explain your legal rights, assess the viability of your claim, and help you fight for financial compensation. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
For a free legal consultation with a Fort Worth Soiled Clothes or Other Signs of Poor Hygiene Lawyer serving Fort Worth, call (800) 794-0444
Legal Protections Against Nursing Home Neglect
Too many families fail to recognize that poor hygiene, soiled bedsheets and clothes, and unsanitary living conditions constitute neglect. But, according to the state of Texas, these actions do qualify as neglect and are in violation of the patient rights outlined in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Rule 133.42.
These laws give Texas families the ability to hold nursing home facilities accountable for any injuries, illnesses, or fatalities that result from unsanitary living conditions, a failure to provide assistance with daily personal hygiene tasks, and other forms of neglect.
Fort Worth Fort Worth Soiled Clothes or Other Signs of Poor Hygiene Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Causes of Neglect in Nursing Homes
While some neglect is borne out of intentional actions, negligence is often the result of systemic issues in staffing and training. While this does not dismiss their legal liability, it can be helpful to understand some of the more common causes of neglect in nursing homes, such as:
- Inadequate staffing: Whether due to a lack of interested applicants or budgetary restrictions, inadequate staffing leaves employees rushing through the care of their residents, struggling to properly assist each resident with daily hygienic tasks, and unable to ensure regular changes of bedding and clothing.
- Inadequate training: The less training an applicant receives, the lower their salary requirements are. Unfortunately, nursing homes can attempt to save money by hiring inadequately trained staff, resulting in caregivers who lack basic knowledge of safety standards and patient care.
- Negligent hiring: If a nursing home fails to do proper background investigations on potential candidates and hires a caregiver with a criminal background or a record of neglect and abuse, they can be held liable for any injuries that result.
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Consult a Fort Worth Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
If you believe that your loved one’s illness or injury could have been prevented through basic hygiene, a Fort Worth soiled clothes or other signs of poor hygiene lawyer can help you hold the nursing home legally responsible.
Your financial compensation may include:
- Any past, current, and future medical bills
- Any required rehabilitation services
- Any related transportation costs
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial costs and/or loss of companionship for families who lost a loved one
- Punitive awards (if the nursing home is found to have acted with profound negligence)
Your elderly loved one deserves to live their life in a supportive, sanitary, and safe environment. A Fort Worth soiled clothes or other signs of poor hygiene lawyer with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm will work tirelessly to fight for the rights of you and your loved one.
If you are concerned about finances, there is no need to be. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm works on a contingency basis, which means you do not pay any upfront costs or out-of-pocket fees. You only pay a fee if we are able to win your case.
Let us help you seek justice for your loved one. Contact us today at (800) 842-6336 to speak with a member of our team.
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