Families that decided to place their elderly loved one in a nursing home trust in the facility and staff to take good care of them. The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 requires nursing facilities to maintain a certain standard of care for residents. Unfortunately, research shows that abuse and neglect occur in some nursing homes. If you or a loved one who lives in a nursing home witnesses odd actions on the part of the staff, you may have the right to take legal action if you suffer losses related to their actions. A Chicago odd actions on the part of the staff lawyer may help determine if you have a case for financial compensation. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to learn more.
Reasons to Live in a Nursing Home
Nursing homes offer a number of important services to those who can no longer live independently. They can provide a sense of community and social support with regular recreational activities and interactions with other residents. The trained staff of a nursing home should remain available around the clock for supervision and if any emergency medical needs arise. Nursing homes also provide room and board, help with bathing, administration of medicine, and physical therapy. Throughout these consistent activities, if you notice strange behavior from the caregivers, you may have reason to suspect elderly abuse or neglect.
Sometimes, residents do not receive proper care. If you have noticed odd behavior on the part of the nursing home staff, or your elderly loved one feels as though they suffered abuse, neglect, or harm, a Chicago odd actions on the part of the staff lawyer may help you determine if abuse or neglect did occur and may help build a case for compensation.
Abuse and Neglect in Nursing Homes
Abuse encompasses behavior resulting in the intentional harm of a human being. In a nursing home, abuse may include physical harm, psychological harm, sexual abuse, and financial exploitation.
Generally speaking, neglect refers to the failure to react or provide the attention necessary for adequate care. Abuse and neglect can devastate victims and affect them for a long time after the incident. Other forms of abuse and neglect include:
- Improper medicine administration.
- Dehydration and malnourishment.
- Ignoring calls for help.
- Yelling, screaming, or verbal abuse.
- Lack of assistance with daily needs.
- Incorrect body positioning for residents with physical limitations.
Sadly, abuse and neglect in nursing homes occur. Residents of nursing homes who suffer from disabilities, mental impairments, and physical restraints that make them more vulnerable to abuse. According to a study by the National Center on Elder Abuse, nursing home staff members even admit to mistreating older patients in some form.
Several warning signs may indicate that abuse, neglect, or both are occurring. Recognizing odd behavior by the nursing home staff and other signs that may indicate abuse may help to save your elderly loved one’s life.
Odd Behavior by Nursing Home Staff
You may live at risk of abuse or neglect if you witnessed or experienced odd behavior by nursing home staff. You should report any caregiver behavior that leads you to believe instances of abuse or neglect occur at the facility. Nursing home staff have a legal obligation to meet a certain standard of care, and if you see behavior that you find inadequate or abnormal, the staff of a facility may fail to meet this standard.
Some indicators of odd behavior include:
- Constantly ringing or unanswered phones.
- High staff or management turnover.
- Tardiness.
- Fighting or arguing among staff.
- Staff ignoring or deflecting your questions.
- Inappropriate physical touching.
- Inconsistency in care.
- Staff members asking questions that make you feel uncomfortable.
The staff of a nursing home can fail to provide them with the care they deserve. If you have noticed any odd behavior by nursing home staff, or if you know they suffer harm, report this immediately and protect their safety and well-being. Keeping an eye out for the warning signs of abuse and neglect can also help keep you or your loved one living in a nursing home safe from harm.
Warning Signs
Understanding warning signs will help you recognize if abuse or neglect occurs. Warning signs of abuse or neglect in nursing homes include:
- Physical or emotional changes.
- A resident avoiding a particular staff member.
- Marks, scrapes, cuts, bruises, or other physical signs.
- Emotional withdrawal and mood changes.
- Sudden decrease in weight or loss of appetite.
- Unexplained financial transactions or unaccounted money.
- Poor hygiene.
If your loved one exhibits any of these warning signs, you should seek immediate help.
For a free legal consultation with a Odd Actions on The Part of the Staff Lawyer serving Chicago, call (800) 794-0444
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for Help
If you have noticed or experienced odd behavior on the part of the staff of the nursing home where your loved one resides, you may have the ability to take legal action to seek justice. A Chicago odd actions on the part of the staff lawyer may help you get to the bottom of the strange behavior and may hold the nursing home responsible if abuse or neglect did occur. While every case proves different, potentially recoverable compensation may remain available to you.
You may have only a limited amount of time to take any legal action. The sooner you call us, the sooner we may be able to begin building your case. Consult Pintas & Mullins Law Firm by calling us. We offer free case evaluations, and we work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning we never charge you up front or out of pocket for our legal services.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
