Founding Partner
Families across Middletown, CT, trust nursing homes to care for those who are sick or elderly. They do so assuming that their loved ones will receive attentive, quality care. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Knowing what to do if your loved one suffers due to nursing home neglect can help you protect their rights and their life. It is crucial to recognize signs of neglect and take action quickly to prevent it from continuing.
Types of Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect comes in several forms, including the following:
Physical Neglect
This is one of the most visible forms of negligence. It happens when staff don’t give residents the care they need to stay clean, fed, hydrated, and healthy. This can lead to:
- Bedsores from not being turned or moved
- Malnutrition or dehydration from not eating or drinking enough
- Infections from poor hygiene or untreated wounds
- Falls from lack of supervision or unsafe surroundings
These are often brushed off as accidents or “part of aging,” but that’s not okay. Nursing homes have a responsibility to meet basic needs, and they must do so.
Emotional Neglect
In some cases, nursing home residents may experience emotional neglect. This can be the only type of abuse they experience, or it can be combined with any other type. This kind of treatment can be just as harmful. People in nursing homes need conversation, connection, and care. When that’s missing, it can lead to depression, anxiety, and withdrawal. Signs of emotional neglect include sudden mood changes, fear around staff members, or a loved one who suddenly stops talking or interacting the way they used to.
Medical Negligence
This form of negligence happens when a nurse or a facility caretaker fails to provide adequate medical care to patients. This may be something as serious as skipping medication or not following a doctor’s orders. It could also mean ignoring clear signs of health issues, like infections or strokes. This type of negligence can lead to severe health consequences for patients or even death. It may prevent a patient from recovering from an injury or ailment and can have severe consequences.
Negligent Hiring or Training
Behind every case of neglect is a system that allowed it to happen. Nursing homes are supposed to hire qualified people and properly train them. When they do not, problems may arise quickly. Untrained or overwhelmed staff might not know how to lift someone correctly, help them bathe, or respond to emergencies. Even worse, they might lose patience or treat residents poorly.
Abuse That Is Disguised as Neglect
Sometimes, what appears to be neglect in a nursing home is actually abuse. A resident might be physically harmed by being slapped or shoved, or they may be yelled at or subjected to sexual or financial abuse, such as being touched inappropriately or manipulated into handing over money or changing their will.
These acts often go unnoticed because they’re hidden behind quiet behavior or brushed off as confusion. If your loved one seems afraid, withdrawn, or suddenly avoids talking about specific staff members, don’t ignore it. These can be signs that something more serious is happening, and they deserve your full attention and quick action.
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
At Stanfield Bechtel Law, we listen. We’ll investigate the details and fight to hold nursing homes accountable. Families come to us when they want answers and to make sure that this does not happen to anyone else’s parent or grandparent.
If you think your loved one has been harmed in a nursing home, call us today for a consultation. We are here to support you every step of the way. Let’s talk about what’s going on and what we can do about it.