You moved your loved one to a nursing home, hoping and expecting that they'll be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. But the tragic reality is that nursing home abuse and neglect happen in Nebraska, Iowa, and throughout the country, and now, you have a sinking feeling that something isn't right.
Could your loved one be a victim of elder abuse or neglect? Knowing the warning signs is crucial to protecting vulnerable seniors from wrongful death and holding negligent nursing homes accountable with the help of an experienced Omaha wrongful death lawyer.
Signs of Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes
Some families may have had an uneasy feeling that something wasn’t right in their loved one’s nursing home. Other families don’t notice anything unusual until it’s too late.
It is not a family’s responsibility to prevent nursing home abuse or neglect. That responsibility rests with the nursing home. However, you want to protect your loved one and other residents, and you can do that by recognizing potential signs of elder abuse or neglect and speaking up when you notice any of the following:
Understaffing
Nursing homes are required to have minimum staffing levels. Staffing amounts are set by the federal and state governments based on the type of nursing home and the level of care provided in the facility. For example, Medicare and Medicaid-certified long-term care facilities must meet minimum staffing standards.
When nursing homes prioritize profits over resident safety, they may operate with low staff-to-resident ratios. This leaves vulnerable residents without adequate supervision and assistance. In these situations, residents may:
- Be left in soiled clothing for extended periods of time
- Miss meals, medication, or medical appointments
- Have unanswered calls for help
- Fall as they try to get out of bed or move without assistance
Additionally, overworked staff may not notice a resident’s change in medical condition and seek appropriate medical care.
A facility may try to hide staffing problems by scheduling additional staff during state inspections or falsifying staff logs.
Poor Infection Control Practices
Nursing home residents are especially vulnerable to infections that can turn fatal without proper prevention measures. Red flags include staff members:
- Not washing hands between resident contacts
- Reusing disposable medical equipment
- Failing to isolate residents with contagious conditions.
Proper infection control requires consistent staff training and adequate supplies. If you notice staff members wearing the same gloves between tasks or failing to use protective equipment when needed, these violations could indicate dangerous facility-wide practices.
Falls and Physical Injuries
Nursing homes must assess fall risks and implement appropriate prevention measures. When they fail to do so, residents suffer devastating injuries that can lead to rapid health decline and death. Warning signs include:
- Unexplained bruising, particularly on the face, arms, or torso
- Repeated falls without changes to the resident's care plan
- Lack of required mobility assistance devices like walkers or bed rails
- Residents left unattended in unsafe positions or locations
Some residents need individualized fall prevention plans based on their mobility levels, medications, and health conditions. The facility should regularly update these plans as the resident's needs change.
Malnutrition and Dehydration
Proper nutrition and hydration are essential. Signs of dangerous neglect include:
- Rapid unexplained weight loss
- Dry, cracked lips and skin
- Decreased urination or dark, concentrated urine
- Mental confusion and lethargy
- Recurring urinary tract infections
- Pressure sores that won't heal
Nursing home staff should notice when residents are not eating or drinking and alert physicians of significant changes.
Medical Care Delays
Quick access to medical treatment can mean the difference between life and death for nursing home residents. Be alert for:
- Staff dismissing or downplaying severe symptoms
- Delays in calling 911 for emergencies
- Failure to notify the family about significant health changes
- Missing medical appointments without explanation
- Lack of physician oversight for chronic conditions
Facilities may try to minimize serious medical issues to avoid transfers to hospitals, which can trigger state investigations. However, this delay in treatment can have fatal consequences.
Every nursing home should have clear protocols for emergencies and regular physician visits. Staff should know when to call 911 and have standing orders for common medical issues.
Understanding Nursing Home Liability for Wrongful Death
When neglect or abuse contributes to a resident's death, the nursing home may be legally liable. An Omaha wrongful death lawyer can help establish the following:
- The facility's duty of care to the resident
- How that duty was breached through negligent acts or omissions
- The connection between the negligence and the resident's death
- The family's right to compensation for their loss
While nothing can bring back your loved one, holding negligent facilities accountable helps prevent future tragedies and gives families a measure of justice with the damages that can be recovered in a wrongful death lawsuit. Nebraska law allows families to seek compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, and the loss of companionship when a loved one dies due to nursing home negligence.
However, these cases require careful investigation to establish nursing home liability. Our team works with medical experts to review records and identify signs of neglect that contributed to resident deaths. We also help families gather witness statements and other evidence before memories fade or staff members move to different facilities. For these reasons, it is never too soon to speak with a wrongful death attorney about your loved one’s case.