Nursing home neglect is a very severe issue that happens more often the one would think. Nursing home neglect can happen in several different ways, ranging from simple negligence to full-on abuse and in some cases even financial exploitation. If you feel that you or a loved one is the victim of nursing home neglect you should contact the authorities and one of our lawyers immediately; it’s not a matter to be taken lightly. In severe cases, negligence can lead to serious illness, death, or financial destitution.

Simple negligence within a nursing home can lead to very serious medical situations and in some cases even death. If the staff neglects their duties such as helping a resident, who can’t get out of bed, to rotate and shift throughout the day the resident can contract what is known as bed sore or pressure sores. These are the result of being in a prone position for extended periods of time, the bonier portions of the body such as the buttocks and the heels as well as the elbows, upper spine and shoulder blades, become red and irritated. These irritations can grow into an open sore that after time can become infected, one major problem with these sores is that in some situations the individual may be totally unaware of them. If they remain untreated the infections can spread throughout the surrounding skin as well as in to the blood stream causing further medical complications and in some severe cases death.

Other complications can arise from the neglect of bed ridden residents as well, if the resident is unable to get up to go to the bathroom and the staff neglects checking in on them they could remain sitting in their own waste products ,which can cause urinary tract infections, most commonly among female residents. These infections can also spread throughout the body if left untreated, causing major medical issues. Most of these issues can be easily prevented if the staff maintains their duties properly. Some can be simply resolved such as cases of dehydration or malnutrition; the staff simply has to check up on residents' water supply and offer meals and snacks as necessary.

If you feel you or a loved one are the subject of any of these types of neglect, then you may have a nursing home neglect case on your hands and should contact Jack Bernstein & Associates, nursing home abuse attorneys immediately. Other indicators of nursing home neglect include a lack of cleanliness in the facilities; disrespectful staff; unexplained injuries; failure to distribute medication properly; isolating or confining residents against their will; abusing a patient's right to privacy; and a host of other potential problems. Negligence can escalate to abuse in the case of negative physical contact. Use your judgment; if you think abuse may be taking place, talk to a lawyer as soon as you can.

If any of these situations apply to you or to your loved one, contact us today. We will fight to help you to get a satisfactory resolution to your current situation.