Nursing Home Negligence

Types of Nursing Home Negligence:
Negligence in a nursing home setting can take many forms. It is broadly categorized into the following areas:

Medical Negligence:
→ Failure to administer medications properly
→ Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of infections, injuries, or chronic conditions
→ Failure to follow physician orders or care plans
→ Improper wound care or post-surgical monitoring
→ Delay in transferring a deteriorating resident to a hospital

Personal Hygiene Neglect:
→ Failure to assist with bathing, grooming, oral care, toileting, and dressing
→ Allowing residents to remain in soiled clothing or bedding for extended periods

Nutritional and Hydration Neglect:
→ Failure to monitor food and fluid intake
→ Not accommodating special dietary needs
→ Malnutrition or dehydration leading to serious complications

Mobility and Fall-Related Negligence:
→ Failure to implement fall prevention measures
→ Inadequate use of mobility aids or bed rails
→ Not assisting with transfers or ambulation

Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers:
→ Failure to reposition non-ambulatory residents regularly
→ Inadequate wound monitoring and treatment
→ Lack of pressure-relieving mattresses or cushions

Emotional and Social Neglect:
→ Ignoring residents’ social and emotional needs
→ Isolation or abandonment
→ Failure to address complaints, depression, or confusion

Resident-on-Resident Violence:
→ Lack of supervision allowing aggressive or confused residents to harm others
→ Failure to intervene in fights, harassment, or assaults

Abuse (Physical, Sexual, Emotional, or Financial):
→ Physical harm inflicted by staff or other residents
→ Sexual misconduct or exploitation
→ Verbal abuse, threats, or intimidation
→ Theft or financial coercion

Causes of Nursing Home Negligence:
→ Understaffing: A primary and systemic cause; too few nurses or aides to meet residents’ needs
→ Inadequate training: Staff unqualified to handle complex medical or emotional needs of elderly residents
→ Poor supervision: Lapses in oversight by administrators, nurses, or physicians
→ Improper hiring practices: Failing to screen employees for prior abuse, neglect, or incompetence
→ High staff turnover: Disrupts continuity of care and familiarity with residents’ needs
→ Neglect of individualized care plans: Ignoring or failing to implement custom care protocols for each resident
→ Profit-driven practices: Cutting costs at the expense of safety and quality care

Signs and Symptoms of Nursing Home Negligence:
→ Physical signs: Bedsores, bruises, fractures, burns, or unexplained injuries; sudden weight loss, dehydration, or malnutrition; soiled clothing or poor hygiene
→ Emotional and behavioral signs: Withdrawal, depression, fear, anxiety, or confusion; sudden changes in mood or behavior; unresponsiveness or catatonia
→ Environmental signs: Unclean living quarters; lack of supervision; odors of urine or feces; medication mismanagement or lack of medical documentation

Nursing home negligence undermines the safety, dignity, and rights of some of society’s most vulnerable individuals. When a facility fails to provide appropriate care or to protect its residents from harm, the consequences can be tragic and irreversible. Families who suspect neglect or abuse should act promptly, by reporting the incident, removing the resident from danger if necessary, and seeking legal representation. Civil litigation serves not only to compensate victims and families but also to hold nursing homes accountable and drive systemic improvements in long-term care facilities.