Elder Abuse: Nursing Home Neglect Is a Widespread Problem
Posted by
Laura BlattJune 28, 2007 6:21 PMA nursing home is guilty of neglect when it fails to fulfill its duties to its residents. These obligations can range from providing special diets to taking a frail, elderly person to the toilet at appropriate times. Refusing to answer a resident's page or failing to call his or her doctor may also be neglect.
A bedridden nursing home resident should be repositioned at least every two hours to relieve body pressure. Without this care, the resident may develop inflamed, reddened skin or bedsores (also called pressure sores or decubitus ulcers). If a bedsore is not treated, skin tissue breaks down and a large wound is formed.
Bedsores are often signs that the nursing home is neglecting residents' nutritional and hygiene needs. Skin breakdown can occur when a resident becomes incontinent and urine and feces are not cleaned up promptly. Improper nutrition may also affect the skin, inhibiting healing.
Poor nutrition and dehydration may cause other health problems. You should be concerned if an elderly relative has lost a great deal of weight while in the nursing home.
Many nursing home violations and complaints are due to understaffing. Otherwise qualified nurses and health professionals may be unable to adequately care for residents, not because of lack of compassion or aptitude, but because they are overloaded and overwhelmed. Nevertheless, the nursing home management owes a legal and moral duty to residents and their families to hire enough employees and to provide proper care. The health of your loved one should not be compromised.
For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Nursing Home and Elder Abuse.