3 Common Signs of Nursing Home and Adult Care Negligence

Many times negligence that occurs in a nursing home or adult care setting can be prevented. The key is to understand the signs of the neglect before it becomes to severe where it cannot be handled. Below are three common types of nursing home and adult care negligence and the plans that should be in place to correct them.

1. Pressure Sore:

A pressure sore is a sore that occurs over a bony area of the body. Pressure sores are only caused by lying in the same position for too long. Pressure sores are usually found on the buttocks, over the tail bone, on the hips, and on the heels. If the resident is immobile or confined to bed, you need to find out what the nursing home is doing to prevent the resident from developing bed sores. There are a number of things that can be done to prevent bed sores, such as:

THE PLAN

• Turning and repositioning the resident at least every two hours;



• Elevating or floating the heels;



• Using a special mattress;



• Good nutrition and hydration;



• Keeping the resident clean and dry.



• If the resident gets a bed sore, it is important to make sure that the nursing home:



• Tells the doctor that the resident has a bed sore;



• Keeps all pressure off the bed sore;



• Checks the bed sore every day to make sure it is not getting any worse;



• Has in place a plan of care to make sure the bed sore does not get any worse;



• Has in place a plan of care to treat the bed sore;



• Ensures that the resident gets the proper nutrition;



• Ensures that urine or feces does come in contact with the bed sore.

If the resident gets a bed sore, you may want to take photographs of the bed sore during the times that the nursing home is changing the dressing. Never remove a dressing on a bed sore yourself. Simply ask the nurse when the dressing will be changed. Then, when the nurse is changing the dressing, take a picture of the sore.

2. Fall:

A fall is defined as an incident, whether seen or not, where a patient is found on the floor. Injuries from falls can be devastating to nursing home residents. Falls can result in fractures, dislocations, lacerations, and head injuries, including deadly subdural hematomas. Many nursing home residents sustain hip fractures in falls. Hip fractures usually require surgical repairs. Statistics show that 50% of all nursing home residents die within one year of hip surgery. Many residents die much sooner as a result of surgical complications and pneumonia.

It is important that the nursing home immediately assesses the resident to see if the resident is at risk for falls. Many things place a resident at risk for falls including, a history of prior falls, medications, strokes, poor safety awareness, instability, a new and unfamiliar environment, poor lighting, improper shoes or socks, slippery floors, and the wrong equipment.

THE PLAN

There are many things a nursing home can do to help those residents who are at risk for falls:

• Put the resident in a low bed;



• Use safety mats next to the bed;



• Put an alarm on the bed, wheelchair and resident;



• Place hip protectors on the resident;



• Take the resident to the bathroom every two hours;



• Timely answer the call light;



• Use a bedside commode;



• Seatbelt on the wheelchair.

When the resident is at risk for falls, it is important to make sure that there is a plan in place to address the risk for falls. If the plan does not work, then the nursing home needs to come up with a new PLAN. Restraints should rarely, if ever, be used. After consultation with the doctor, the nursing home, and after all else fails is the time you should even consider restraining your loved one. If you do decide to restrain your loved one, then there are many legal requirements for the use of the restraints.

3. Urinary Tract Infection:

A urinary tract infection usually results from bacteria getting into the urinary tract. This can occur from the nursing home's failure to keep the resident clean and dry.

THE PLAN

If the resident is kept clean and dry, they should not develop a urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infections are difficult to identify. If you notice a change in mental status or a fever, that is usually the first sign or symptom of a urinary tract infection. If those signs are present, the nursing home should notify the doctor, perform a blood test and take a urine culture. Untreated urinary tract infections can lead to deadly blood infections. So, it is important that urinary tract infections are identified and quickly treated.

This article has been prepared for informational purposes only and not as legal advice. The reading of this article does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship does not begin until the attorney is hired to represent your claim in writing. Please do not act upon any information read within this article without first seeking legal counsel within your state.