Neglect in nursing homes

Neglect in nursing homes has become a national problem due to the high numbers that have been recorded in recent years of this situation that affects thousands of older adults around the country.

Let’s start by defining what negligence is. In this case, nursing home neglect is the action or lack of action to meet the basic needs of an older adult living in the nursing home. Some of these needs may be food, medication, and hygiene, among others.

Negligent actions by nursing home staff can be intentional or accidental. However, these actions can have physical and emotional consequences. We must remember that older adults are more vulnerable and fragile to any type of abuse.

Emotional neglect is one of the types of negligent acts that occur in retirement homes. This can generate fear, anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions in victims. There are also medical negligence cases where the caretakers do not provide the necessary medications at the established time. In these cases, the consequences can be very severe and even fatal. Yet another is the neglect of their basic needs and daily activities. This can include not helping them shower, forgetting to feed them, and allowing them to withstand temperatures that are too high or too low for them, among others.

Unfortunately, one of the most common causes for neglect and abuse statistics to continue to rise is that nursing homes do not have enough trained staff. This complicates the possibility of serving all residents adequately. On the other hand, those who hire staff sometimes fail to assess candidates’ skills and provide the necessary training.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home, we recommend that you be alert to signs of possible abuse or neglect. Some common signs are distress, confusion, lack of hygiene, injuries, etc. If you suspect your loved one is being a victim of some type of abuse, do not hesitate to contact us for legal support.