There are many different types of behaviors that may constitute neglect or abuse at a nursing home or long-term care center.
Some of the most common types of neglect and abuse include:
- Sexually abusing a nursing home resident – Sexual abuse in the nursing home setting involves unwanted sexual attention or touching by a staff member or another nursing home resident. Sexual abuse may include unwanted fondling, touching, penetration, or advances of a sexual nature.
- Verbal abuse of a nursing home resident – Verbal abuse in the nursing home setting can occur when a staff member makes threats against a resident, in an attempt to coerce the resident into doing something against their will. Insulting or demeaning remarks directed at a nursing home resident can also constitute verbal abuse.
- Physical abuse of a nursing home resident – Hitting, slapping, or otherwise striking a nursing home resident in an unreasonable way constitutes physical abuse.
- Failing to care for a nursing home resident properly – When a person lives in a nursing home or long-term care center, the expectation is that the staff there will care for the resident properly and make sure to reasonably address all needs. Proper care involves seeing to the resident’s medical needs, making sure that the resident receives their meals, and bathing the resident regularly. Failing to wash a resident regularly can lead to serious medical problems, such as pressure ulcers.
- Failing to monitor residents – Most nursing home residents are at such a facility because they require medical care around the clock. The nursing home is responsible for seeing to all residents’ medical needs and taking care to monitor these residents. Monitoring residents often requires taking their vitals (including their blood pressure and temperature) regularly, and responding to resident complaints (including pain complaints) and symptoms promptly. In addition, nursing home staff must promptly respond to resident symptoms, such as complaints of chest pains or shortness of breath. Failing to do so may result in a heart attack, stroke, or untimely resident death.
- Failure to ensure facility cleanliness – Nursing homes must make sure that their facilities, including resident rooms, are sufficiently clean at all times. Particularly in the age of COVID-19, unclean facilities can be a breeding ground for germs and ultimately lead to illness or a resident’s death. In addition to keeping resident rooms clean, nursing facilities must also ensure that common areas, including hallways, are clean and free from debris and liquids. When these substances are present on the floor, nursing home residents (especially those who roam) may slip and fall, sustaining a severe injury.
- Medical errors – Many individuals who reside in a Duluth nursing facility are required to take several different types of medication multiple times per day. Nursing home staff members are responsible for making sure that these residents are given the correct medication at the proper time of day and in the right dosage. When nurses mix up drugs or give out an incorrect dosage, serious complications can arise for nursing home residents. For example, some residents may be allergic to a particular medication; if a nursing home staff member negligently gives a resident that medication, then the resident may become seriously ill or even die as a result.
- Inadequate resident supervision – Many individuals go to nursing homes because they can no longer care for themselves and require constant monitoring. Although some nursing home residents require a higher level of supervision than others, all residents require some degree of oversight while staying at the nursing facility. When staff members do not supervise residents properly, they may sustain a fall injury (such as in the bathroom) or some other serious injury that can have a permanent effect. Moreover, unsupervised elderly individuals with dementia may even leave the facility unexpectedly.
If you have a loved one who resides at a long-term care center, such as a nursing home, and you believe that they may be the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, you should retain the services of experienced legal counsel as soon as possible.
Our experienced attorneys can investigate the abuse allegations at the nursing facility. If there is a likelihood of abuse, our legal team can assist you with filing a legal complaint and taking necessary legal action against the nursing facility.
Suppose your loved one was injured or acquired a medical complication as a result of the abuse or neglect. In that case, we can assist you in pursuing monetary compensation and damages from the responsible nursing home staff member or the nursing home itself.
