ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Neglect Of Patients In Hospice Programs And Care Facilities
Forms And Dangers Of Neglect
How To Spot Neglect
Nursing homes and hospice agencies are paid to care for the elderly and dying. Patients and their families rely on facility or agency staff to do the job they are being paid for, and provide the care their aging or dying loved ones can no longer provide for themselves. But often those most in need of care – the bedridden or terminally ill – are simply neglected. The result can be deadly. Evans Law Firm, Inc. represents nursing home and hospice patients neglected or abandoned with untreated pressure wounds/bed sores and infections that turn fatal. Parties responsible for such abuse and neglect are liable for their actions under California Law. See Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code §§ 15610.07 (definition of abuse), 15610.57 (definition of neglect), and 15610.63 (definition of physical abuse). The parties responsible for the condition and fatality should be held accountable. If you have a loved one who has suffered from abuse or neglect in a hospice program in Los Angeles or elsewhere throughout California, call us today at (415)441-8669 or TOLL FREE 1-888-80EVANS (888-503-8267).
Types of Nursing Home Neglect
Elder neglect can take many forms, including:
Abandonment
This occurs when those responsible for an elder desert them with no regard for their well-being. In 2020, The New York Times noted that a Los Angeles nursing home kicked out an 88-year-old man with dementia in order to offer his bed to a higher paying patient and sent him to a homeless shelter without telling his family members.
Medical Neglect
Medical neglect is when nursing home care providers fail to properly treat or prevent health problems. This can result in inadequate diabetic care, bedsores, infections, mobility issues, and other health problems.
Neglect of Basic Needs
This type of neglect occurs when nursing homes fail to provide residents with enough food or water, or a clean, safe environment. As a result, residents may suffer from malnutrition or dehydration. Residents may also be at a higher risk of many other issues, like falling or theft, if their environment is unsafe.
Neglect of Personal Hygiene
This is the failure of a nursing facility to properly help a resident with dental care, laundry, and bathing. Residents suffering from a neglect of personal hygiene may appear dirty and wear soiled clothes.
Social or Emotional Neglect
This may involve ignoring a nursing home resident, leaving them alone, or not letting them interact with friends, family, or other residents.
Spotting Signs Of Neglect
There are several possible warning signs of nursing home neglect:
Bed Sores/Pressure Wounds
Bed sores/pressure wounds are potentially dead. They develop most often when an immobile patient is not regularly turned or an incontinent patient is not regularly cleaned and dried. If you spot any pressure wound, however small, bring it to the administrator’s attention immediately.
Loss or Lack of Mobility
Good nursing homes have programs and policies to keep residents physically active and mobile. Nursing homes may leave residents sitting in their beds or wheelchairs for long periods of time, causing them to develop mobility issues.
Poor Resident Hygiene
Many elderly people need help with personal health care, such as brushing their teeth and bathing. Nursing homes without enough staff members often fail to keep residents clean and healthy.
Psychological Issues
Neglect may lead to emotional issues, such as fear of caregivers, a reluctance to open up to staff, or anger and resentment. Constant neglect can cause anxiety or depression, and some residents may distance themselves from friends and family members as a result.
Signs of Inadequate Nutrition
Many residents in neglectful nursing homes suffer from malnutrition and dehydration because they are not getting enough food or water. Loved ones should look for signs of malnutrition, such as tiredness or irritability, complaints of being cold, hair loss, and papery skin.
Unsanitary Living Conditions
A nursing home should provide clean clothing, bedding, and living areas. Facilities should also be free from pests and mold. If a nursing home is often dirty, your loved one may be at a higher risk of neglect.
Contact Us
If you have a loved one who has suffered any kind of abuse or neglect in a nursing home or hospice program, call us at Evans Law Firm, Inc. right away. You can reach Ingrid M. Evans at (415) 441-8669, or by email at info@evanslaw.com or TOLL FREE 1-888-80EVANS (888-503-8267). Ingrid knows how to investigate cases of physical (and financial) elder abuse and pursues all remedies available under California law which include holding supervisors and owners responsible for neglect and abuse of institutionalized patients. Awards may include attorneys’ fees and expenses you’ve incurred in bringing your case.
