What are some of the causes of nursing home neglect and abuse?

Many instances of nursing home abuse have been attributed to under qualified and inexperienced staff, as well as under staffed facilities. Staff that is unable to handle different nursing home situations may not be able to provide good care to their residents.

What are some signs that indicate nursing home neglect or abuse could be occurring?

Any of the following signs could warrant further investigation:

• Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, sprains, or fractures in various stages of healing
• Bedsores
• Unexplained venereal disease or genital infections; vaginal or anal bleeding; torn, stained, or bloody underclothing
• Sudden changes in behavior
• Staff refusing to allow visitors to see resident or delays in allowing visitors to see resident
• Resident being kept in an over-medicated state

How prevalent is nursing home neglect?

1.6 million Americans reside in over 16,000 nursing homes across this country. A 1998 study conducted by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) concluded that more than half of the suspicious deaths studied in nursing homes were probably due to nursing home neglect, including malnutrition and dehydration. Unreported instances of abuse must also be taken under consideration when evaluating this statistic.

If I suspect nursing home neglect or abuse what should I do?

Unfortunately, deaths and serious injuries have resulted from nursing home neglect and abuse. If nursing home neglect is suspected, you should contact an attorney immediately as time is of the essence.