7 Ways Nursing Homes Fail to Keep Their Residents Safe

According to sites like By NPS Law, nursing homes are meant to offer residents a safe and welcoming environment. Still, institutions can fail to fulfill their goal. There are many ways that nursing homes can fail to respect their oath in keeping residents safe. Among the most common forms, we can include neglect, abuse, and discrimination.

It is important to know how to recognize signs of abuse and what action to take. Keep in mind that it is best to always look for a credible provider such as this nursing home in peoria to receive the best care.

In the following, we will look at seven ways the residents’ safety can be endangered by the facility that is meant to protect them. 

1. Neglect

One of the most common ways that nursing homes fail to keep their residents safe is through neglect. This is a passive endangerment associated with substandard care or breach of duty, that exposes the resident to physical or psychological harm. The main forms of neglect are:

• Medical neglect is the failure to meet or to prevent medical concerns. This might be concerning several aspects of daily care, like medication and diet. Some of the signs include bedsores, infections, and problems with mobility.
• Emotional neglect often manifests as ignorance. Instead of feeling like part of a community and cared for, the resident may feel alone and abandoned. We all have emotional needs, especially when we are going through difficult periods. The nursing home staff should look after the psychological well-being of the elderly too. 
• Neglect of basic hygiene is the failure to ensure proper bathing, dental hygiene, laundry, and other such acts. If a resident presents poor hygiene, this can be a sign of neglect and requires further inquiries. 
• Neglect of basic needs can manifest in not providing sufficient food, water and ensuring a clean environment.

2. Abuse

Neglect and abuse are terms that can raise some confusion, so let’s clear the air. Neglect is characterized by the lack of action necessary for the care of a resident. Abuse is characterized by taking intentional action to cause physical harm or emotional distress to someone. Below are the most common forms of abuse in nursing homes:

• Physical abuse is inflicting any form of physical harm on someone. Residents should not be pushed, shoved, pulled, or hit under any circumstance. A victim of physical abuse might display bodily signs like bruises or scrapes. 
• Psychological abuse can be more subtle and harder to detect. This includes causing emotional distress to a resident by humiliation or alienating them from others. The effects of psychological abuse might be harder to notice since these are not visible on the body. However, the victim can display sudden behavioral changes characteristic of depression or anxiety.
• Verbal abuse includes screaming at a resident or using foul language. All residents should be treated with respect at all times. 
• Sexual abuse is any form of nonconsensual sexual activity. 2017 CNN report about sexual abuse in nursing homes uncovered incidents reported in more than 1,000 facilities across the US. 

Residents may suffer abuse by staff members, but quite often they are targeted by other residents. It is the responsibility of the staff to notice these incidents and to take action. But fellow residents should be encouraged to report any misconduct as well, regardless if the abuser is one of them or a caretaker. A nursing home should ensure the safety of all residents.

3. Financial Exploitation

Any form of withholding or misuse of the financial resources of the elderly can fall under financial exploitation. This can be practiced by both the staff and fellow residents. Furthermore, representatives of the institution can ask for excessive charges from residents for products or services. The tell-tale sign of financial exploitation is a sudden and inexplicable change in the finances of the victim.

4. Discrimination

Discrimination can take many forms, as in any other setting. However, in nursing homes, the staff can additionally discriminate against residents who are eligible for Medicaid. While some staff members might say that Medicaid does not cover a particular service, the fact is that residents with Medicaid qualify for the same care as all other residents.

5. Deprivation

Residents can be subjected to willful deprivation by members of the nursing home staff. This refers to the denial of any resources or services like food, medication, or medical care, to mention just a few. These deprivations may subject a person to physical harm or suffering. However, if an able-minded adult has expressly asked for withholding a particular service, the caretakers cannot be accused of deprivation.

6. Loss of Therapy

The therapy of a resident might come to an abrupt termination by the administration. Different reasons might be invoked for this. Sometimes this happens on account of slow progress. The administration might state that a resident is no longer making progress. 

However, that is not necessarily out of the ordinary. Progress might slow down or even stop altogether, but that does not mean that the patient no longer benefits from the program. If nothing else, it can help keep a condition in check and slow down the ravages of disease.

Access to therapy might also be cut on account of Medicare. A staff member might claim that a resident’s Medicare payment expired and the service is not covered by Medicaid. However, therapy should not be dependent on either of those things, the only thing that should matter is the medical aspect. If the program is beneficial for the patient, they should benefit from it.

7. Eviction

The nursing home staff might threaten a resident with being kicked out for being difficult. Other times, they might threaten with eviction because the resident is refusing medication or medical treatment. However, neither of these commonly invoked reasons is valid. There are only 6 reasons that might lead to a patient’s eviction:

• Nursing home care is no longer required by the resident.
• The resident did not pay.
• The facility is not equipped to satisfy the needs of a resident.
• The facility will close down.
• The resident poses a real risk to the safety of others.
• The resident is a health risk to other residents.

Take Action Against the Abuser

The victimization of senior citizens is met with serious penalties in most states. Unfortunately, the elderly are exposed to the risk of abuse even within the facility that is meant to protect them. If you know a resident who has suffered any form of harm inflicted by the staff or other residents, help them stand up against their abuser and take action. 

The best course of action to be taken in this case is to contact the proper authorities. Furthermore, you can contact a specialized support line to get more tailored advice from people who deal with situations like yours daily. In case of immediate and life-threatening danger, contact 911 straight away. 

If you decide to take legal action, get in touch with a nursing home abuse lawyer. Present the case to a qualified attorney and let them guide you through the legal proceedings. Find an Alabama nursing home abuse attorney, nationally known for fighting against nursing home abuse and who is ready to take the battle to the courtroom, if needed.

Help Keep the Elderly Safe

When a facility that has the main function to keep safe the most vulnerable, turns against those who it should protect, it is time to take a stand. If you know of any incident that might be considered an endangerment to the well-being of a nursing home resident, take action. 

Most importantly contact experts who will be able to guide you through the proper steps. You can start by using a specialized support line and a qualified lawyer. Build a strong team of experts around you and fight for the rights of the elderly together. 

About the Author

Kyle Hambright is a passionate writer proudly representing Pintas and Mullins Law Firm. He has focused his legal career on personal injury cases, and throughout his practice, Kyle has helped people from all walks of life. This determination transpires in his writings as well. His articles translate the complex web of legal jargon into accessible text. Readers not only gain a firm grasp on theory, but they also learn how to put it into practice.