Neglect of Nursing Home Residents

    PHOENIX, AZ, April 17, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When an older individual receives care at a nursing home, they are supposed to be cared for by attentive, helpful nursing home staff. Nursing home neglect is one of the leading causes of personal injuries in older individuals.

Nursing homes are designed to provide care and prevent injuries for seniors, but when nursing home staff neglects the needs of their residents, the results can be disastrous.

Nursing home neglect can come in many different forms, and it can cause many different problems, including:

- Weight Loss - Nursing home staff can neglect residents by placing food and water out of reach or not providing them with enough food. This type of nursing home neglect can lead to malnutrition, and it can cause serious health problems like internal bleeding and organ malfunction.

- Lack of Medication - Staff can sometimes neglect nursing home residents when they are not given their required medication. Medications for seniors are incredibly important for them to retain their physical and mental health. When medications are not given to patients, it can cause incredible damage to the body, requiring hospitalization and other extensive treatments.

- Bedsores - When an older individual is neglected while laying down in bed, they can develop bedsores. These sores occur when blood collects under the skin and they can become infected and require serious medical attention.

- Poor Hygiene - Many nursing home residents require assistance when bathing or using the bathroom, but are neglected. This can lead to serious infection and other medical issues.

Signs of nursing home neglect can range from slight weight loss to fatigue and nausea, which is why you need to pay attention to your loved one's complaints if they have any. It's not uncommon for family members to get caught up in other conversations when visiting loved ones, so the next time you visit your family member, make sure you ask about their care and how they are being treated.

Not all nursing home neglect is active, like failing to provide food, water and medications. Some nursing homes are guilty of passive nursing home abuse, where cries for help are ignored or deemed unimportant, leaving residents alone for hours on end.

Nursing home neglect comprises about half of all nursing home abuse cases and it is a very serious thing. Nursing home neglect can cause serious personal injury, hospitalization, and even wrongful death. For families who are coping with an elder person who has been neglected, a nursing home attorney can help you recover compensation for the injuries they have suffered.

If you live in the Phoenix, Arizona area and suspect that your loved one is being neglected at their nursing home, please visit the nursing home abuse website of the Cullan & Cullan M.D., J.D., Phoenix nursing home abuse attorneys who are also doctors.

Website: www.stopnursinghomeabuse.org

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