Deciding to put a loved one in a nursing home can be an incredibly challenging decision. However, in many situations, a nursing home is the best option for providing full-time care for your loved one. Even after you’ve considered your options and chosen the facility that best fits your loved ones needs, you still need to be vigilant about advocating for your loved one to ensure that they continue to get the high-quality care they deserve. Read on to learn from elder abuse attorney Paul Galm about the signs of nursing home neglect:
Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
The two most common signs of nursing home neglect are bedsores and falls. While either condition can happen in attentive nursing homes, it’s important to ask the right questions to determine whether or not you’re dealing with negligence.
Bedsores
If your loved one is developing bed sores, you’ll want to pay close attention to the level of care they are receiving. Not only should the nursing home staff take efforts to reposition mobility-challenged patients to prevent bedsores, but they should also inspect the skin once a day to catch any developing bedsore in its earliest stages. If your loved one is developing frequent or serious bedsores, this can be a red flag for nursing home neglect.
Falls
Nursing home falls are incredibly common, and while not all falls are the result of nursing home negligence, it’s important to try to distinguish which internal and external factors are responsible for the fall. Here are some frequent causes of nursing home falls that could fall under negligence:
- Overmedication
- Staff Unresponsiveness
- Slippery, Cluttered, or Uneven Floors
- Insufficient Training
- Poor Patient Foot Care
- Extreme Dehydration
- Improper Fall Risk Evaluation
How to Report Nursing Home Neglect
If your loved one has recently fallen or developed bedsores at their nursing home in Oregon and you suspect negligence contributed to the incident, it may be time to contact nursing home neglect attorney Paul Galm. Because of his experience litigating nursing home neglect, Paul is familiar with the extensive regulations that nursing homes in Oregon must meet, and with his help, you can determine whether you have a case. He can even help guide you to make a complaint against a licensed nursing home and report abuse or neglect to your local Department of Human Services office. Contact us for a free consultation today.