When you have a loved one moved to a nursing home, you’re entrusting the staff there to protect and care for them. Whether they’re there for a short-term stay or longer, you expect them to receive the highest quality of care. Unfortunately, there are many incidents of residents being injured while at a facility.
Sometimes, these injuries are caused by negligent behavior or intentional. Knowing the most common types of nursing home injuries can help you better protect and advocate for your loved one.
Nursing home residents can suffer many injuries. Injuries can be physical, emotional, or psychological and negatively affect residents’ quality of life and safety while under the care of a nursing home.
These injuries can result from accidents, staff negligence, systemic failures, or intentional abuse. Even accidental injuries or those caused by environmental hazards can likely be prevented with proper attention and care.
Every nursing home is responsible for providing professional, compassionate, and comprehensive care to residents. Any care provided is designed to maintain or improve the residents’ health issues, dignity, and overall quality of life. This can include:
When you understand the various injuries a resident can suffer in a nursing home, such as spinal injuries, you’ll be better prepared to protect their rights with early intervention. Residents can suffer minor to serious injuries, all impacting their lives. Each injury needs attention and can have serious consequences on the residents’ physical and mental health.
Nursing homes are known for dealing with pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores. These develop when a resident is left in the same position for too long without repositioning, which decreases blood flow. When nursing home residents suffer from pressure ulcers that are not properly treated, it can lead to medical issues like:
Bedsores can be prevented with regular repositioning, proper equipment, and proper nutrition. If a resident does develop a bedsore, early intervention is key to protect vulnerable residents and prevent a decline in health status.
Falls are among the most common nursing home facility injuries and the most dangerous for older adults. When nursing home residents fall, it can result in certain injuries, such as:
If a resident falls, it can be for several reasons. Common risk factors for fall-related injuries in nursing homes are:
Many nursing homes have fall prevention protocols to help reduce and prevent fall-related injuries. Even with these protocols, nursing facilities must be vigilant to keep walkways clear and monitor residents.
Not everyone realizes that medication errors are considered injuries in nursing homes. When there’s a medication error, it can have devastating consequences. Common issues seen in nursing homes include:
Medication injuries compromise the resident’s medical care and can lead to life-threatening medical conditions, hospitalization, or sometimes death. Nursing homes must have proper medication management and documentation protocols to help prevent medication errors. These errors may be nursing home negligence.
Everyone needs proper nutrition and hydration, and residents in a nursing home setting rely on staff to help them with this necessity. Nursing home injuries can happen due to malnutrition and dehydration and cause other issues like:
Nursing homes must monitor food and water intake regularly, especially for residents who need assistance eating and drinking.
Injuries from physical and emotional abuse are far too common in nursing homes. Forms of physical and emotional abuse are:
The impacts of nursing home abuse extend far past the physical injuries. These can lead to lasting psychological trauma, impeding the resident’s ability to focus on maintaining or improving their health status.
Sexual abuse in nursing homes is very disturbing and often goes unreported or noticed. This type of abuse can take many forms, including:
Every resident is vulnerable to sexual abuse, particularly those with cognitive impairments, as it’s easier for abusers to manipulate them. Nursing home staff must have robust prevention protocols and reporting procedures.
Not all abuse has physical signs you’ll see immediately. Knowing what to look for in nursing home settings is essential for anyone who has a family member or loved one in a nursing home.
Spotting physical injuries in nursing homes tends to be the easiest. Knowing the signs of elder abuse can help you ensure you’re making sure your loved one is being taken care of:
Severe cases can result in serious injuries and even death. Contact local authorities if your loved one is injured and needs immediate medical attention. Many residents are scared to report staff, such as registered nurses, for abuse because they fear adverse consequences.
Being in a nursing home can significantly affect a resident’s behavior. While that’s common, be on the lookout for sudden and prolonged signs of emotional neglect that are not age-related changes, like:
When a nursing home resident has sudden behavioral changes, it can indicate a larger problem. Behavioral changes that might indicate nursing home abuse or neglect include:
Even if a resident chooses not to eat, it’s the nursing home’s responsibility to ensure that they’re getting proper nutrition and hydration. Signs that your loved one is suffering from malnutrition include:
Every nursing home resident has rights. These rights protect them and ensure they have the best possible care and experience while living there. Unfortunately, these are often violated when abuse is present.
Every resident, including high-risk residents, has the right to quality care, and nursing homes should uphold this right. The right to quality care includes:
Residents living in a nursing home deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. This right includes:
Nursing homes must ensure residents are free from abuse and neglect. Every staff member, including administrative, nursing, certified nursing assistants, and anyone else working in the nursing home, needs to protect residents from:
Legal representation, particularly from lawyers who understand elder law, can be invaluable when you pursue compensation.
An experienced elder or nursing home abuse lawyer is invaluable when helping build your case. They’ll thoroughly investigate the situation, including:
Based on what you’ve told them and the findings of their investigation, your attorney will then build a compelling case for you or your loved one. Building a solid case involves:
When you file a personal injury claim for nursing home abuse or neglect, dealing with insurance companies can bring a lot of stress. Experienced personal injury lawyers will negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf because they understand:
Ideally, your lawyer and the liable parties can settle your claim out of court. If necessary, your lawyer will handle the litigation of your case. This includes:
Nursing homes and staff are responsible for caring for all residents, including finding ways to prevent nursing home injuries. While some injuries are accidental, proper patient safety protocols can prevent them.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury while at a nursing home, you’re not alone. Whether it was a minor or serious injury, Nursing Home Law Center is here to help you hold the parties responsible accountable. We understand what common injuries are in nursing homes and how to protect the rights of injured residents during their stay. Don’t let nursing home negligence get brushed under the rug.
Contact us today for a free consultation by filling out our online form or calling (800)-926-7565.