There are many different potential causes of bruising on older adults. Bruises are the result of skin trauma, when forceful physical contact is strong enough to break the blood vessels. The injury appears as a bruise.
Certain types of medical treatments, accidents, and abuse can cause bruises on older adults in a nursing home environment. Older adults bruise more easily than others, which means that nursing homes should always provide treatment and prevent mitigate future bruising.
Failure to do so may indicate that the nursing home is neglecting its duty of care toward your family member. If you suspect that nursing home abuse or neglect is happening to your loved one, hiring a lawyer can help you intervene while pursuing a claim for compensation.
Common Causes of Bruises on Older Adults
Bruises are a common injury that people experience throughout their lives. They occur when blood from damaged capillaries collects beneath the skin’s surface. This reaction is what causes the black and blue discoloration. Bruises are generally harmless, and the chief complaints are tenderness, pain, and temporary disfigurement.
There are a few causes that can result in bruising:
- Bumping into an object
- Severe force trauma
- Vigorous physical activity and sports
- Medical disorders
- People taking blood-thinning medications
- Slip, trip, or fall accidents
- Physical abuse
- Medical neglect
If you notice that your older adult family member is sustaining bruises often, talking with a nursing home manager or medical provider will provide insight into the circumstances causing them.
They can also give you information about possible solutions to prevent future bruising. As your loved one recovers from his or her injury, it is critical to ensure that staff members follow the doctor’s treatment advice and care plan.
Why Older Adults Bruise So Easily
Older adults experience easy bruising more commonly than younger individuals. As the body ages, skin becomes thinner while protective fat layers, which prevent blood vessels, diminish. Therefore, the vessels under the skin can break from a lesser impact than vessels in younger adults.
It is for this reason that Since bruising can happen so quickly and easily, it may not always be a sign of nursing home abuse. However, there are some signs that your loved one’s bruising is more than an accident.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 842-6336
Bruising May Be a Sign of Abuse or Neglect
The first sign of physical injury is typically a bruise. While older adults experience bruising more easily than others, you should investigate all incidents thoroughly.
Bruising may be a sign of abuse or neglect under the following occurrences:
- Transferring the patient without proper equipment or assistance
- Allowing a resident with mobility issues to walk without adequate support
- Keeping personal care and basic needs items at unreachable heights
- Committing acts of physical or sexual assault on the resident
- Not providing a safe, well-lit environment
- Improperly administering medical care and treatment
- Aggressive handling and assistance by staff members
- Failing to treat bruise injuries
Family members must be aware of the signs of nursing home abuse or neglect. The first step in preventing it is by reporting the injuries to nursing home managers and hospital administrators. Take pictures of the injury and jot down any details of the event to determine the potential cause of bruises on older adults.
What to Do If You Have Concerns About Your Loved One’s Bruising
After observing signs of bruising in an older adult, you may have suspicions about its cause. Calling a nursing home abuse or neglect lawyer is a great strategy to learn about your legal options while ensuring your family member’s safety.
As your lawyer takes steps to protect your loved one from further abuse or neglect, he or she will document the injury and pursue compensation for financial, emotional, and physical losses. Cases involving personal injury are technical and complex, which means that you will have peace of mind in knowing that a legal professional is there to help you navigate the process.
You can receive compensation for medical expenses, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment, and more. Your lawyer negotiates with the nursing home’s insurer or brings your case to trial if the initial settlement offer does not seem reasonable to you.
Click to contact our lawyers today
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm About Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
Sometimes a bruise is not just a bruise. If you suspect that your loved one’s bruises are a sign of abuse or neglect, discuss the circumstances surrounding his or her injuries with a nursing home abuse lawyer.
The legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm invites you to contact us for a free consultation for more information. Call us today at (800) 842-6336. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront costs, and we only collect a fee if we recover compensation for you.
Call or text (800) 842-6336 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
