Helping,Families,and,Loved,One law Helping Families and Loved Ones Identify Nursing Home Abuse

Bankruptcy is a situation, wherein an individual is termed as unable to discharge all the debts. When a person or a company is not able to pay off its creditors, it has an obligation to file a bankruptcy suit. In fact, a bankruptcy suit is a When you work with an attorney, you will have no problem reducing the risks associated with getting your case in front of a judge and jury, or other formal court, when you need to. However, every case is different. It is important to work wi

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}One of the most difficult decisionsa family can make is to place a loved one in a nursing home or other long-termcare facility. Although such facilities can provide a level of care andsupervision that many families cannot give on their own, poor nursing home carecan sometimes worsen a resident’s condition, or even hasten his or her death.Most nursing homes are staffed with caregivers who want to provide the bestcare, but the work is difficult and many facilities have high staff turnover.This can lead to nursing homes that are understaffed or have poorly trained orinexperienced workers.Families often must select a nursinghome quickly when a loved one is injured or ill and suddenly needs full-timecare. Family members want to be assured that the nursing home they’ve selectedhas an excellent record, but even with web sites such as Medicare’s"Nursing Home Compare," the task can be daunting.A study by Wisconsin's MilwaukeeJournal-Sentinel highlights the difficulties in finding accurate and specificinformation on nursing home violations, as the article’s authors had tomanually compile information from thousands of pages of records. The 2008 studyrevealed that over a recent three-year period, 359 nursing home residents inWisconsin were subject to violations that "put patients in jeopardy."Surprisingly, many families were unaware that their loved ones’ injuries ordeaths later resulted in citations against the nursing homes. Against this background, it is easyto see why many instances of nursinghome negligence and neglect  are unknown, even to family members.Detecting Injuries That May Be Signsof Nursing Home Abuse or NeglectBed sores, also known as pressuresores or decubitus ulcers, are among the most common signs of neglect. Theyform as a result of a lack of blood flow to areas of the body with significantpressure, such as the backside of a person confined to a bed or wheelchair.Although they can be avoided by simply moving the person every two hours, theinfections they cause can be life threatening. Other nursing home injuries thatshould be red flags include:Broken bones or fracturesBruisesInfectionsInternal bleedingMalnutrition or weight lossDehydrationAsking the Right QuestionsHaving looked up to parents,grandparents and other relatives for so many years, family members concernedabout nursing home abuse or neglect may find it difficult to ask what seem likevery personal or even embarrassing questions of loved ones in nursinghomes. If they have concerns, however, family membersshould not be afraid to question the staff and loved ones.These are warning signs to look forduring visits:Does the staff deny or delay your visit?Do you get enough "alone time" with your loved one?Does there seem to be enough staff on hand when you visit?Is the staff following the orders of the doctor and family?Have there been errors in medication?Is the facility using what seem to be unnecessary restraints on your loved one?Do you see signs of poor hygiene, such as soiled bedding?Are changes in the patient’s condition reported to you and the doctor promptly?Have there been any unusual banking or financial transactions, or changes to wills or life insurance documents?Have any of your loved one's personal items disappeared?Some forms of nursing home abuse canbe more difficult to detect, such as verbal and mental abuse and sexualabuse. Often, patients do not report them for fear that theabuse will get worse or they will face reprisal. If your loved one shows signsof depression or anxiety, talks of wanting to move to a different facility ormentions caregivers whom he or she dislikes, it may be a cry for help.Seeking Legal HelpJust as placing a family member in anursing home is an important decision that should be made carefully, thedecision to seek legal help following an injury or death of a loved one canseem daunting for many families — particularly those who are grieving.It is important to remember,however, that even outstanding facilities can face some of the same problems aspoorly equipped or poorly staffed facilities. Even if you selected whatappeared to be excellent care for your loved one, it is possible that theactions, or inactions, of the home’s staff are the cause of your familymember’s injury. An attorney who has dealt with nursing home abuse can help youdetermine your legal options and help cut through administrative red tape.If you have questions about nursinghome abuse or neglect, it is important to not be silent. Talk to your lovedones, talk to the staff, and if your questions are not resolved quickly and toyour satisfaction, talk to an experienced attorney.