Types Of Nursing Home Negligence

Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer Scott D. DeSalvo explains the basics of injury law when it comes to nursing home negligence, and what to look out for if you or a loved on is being cared for in a nursing home.

There are over 3 million Americans living in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, and that number will certainly grow. While many of these residents are well cared for by staff and loved ones, sadly, many are the victims of nursing home abuse that they suffer through silently. At the Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo, we take this situation seriously. As a nursing home negligence attorney in Chicago, we want to help you in every way we can if a loved one or friend is the victim of nursing home negligence.

Having knowledge of what to look out for and how these situations develop can help you protect your loved one, and to know when to take action and call a nursing home negligence attorney in Chicago when your loved on is not cared for properly.

First, some sobering statistics:

• In 1999, perhaps as many as 5,000 nursing homes deaths were attributed to neglect. These included starvation, dehydration or bedsores as the cause of death.
• In 2005, over 90% of the nation’s nursing homes were cited for at least one health violation.
• Over 90% of nursing homes have at least one convicted criminal on their staff, and there are no national requirements for background checks for nursing home employees.
• About 90% of nursing homes do not have enough staff to provide adequate care.
• In 2001, one out of every four nursing homes was cited for the serious injury or death of a resident.
• Over 50% of nursing home residents do not have a close relative to help them deal with neglect or abuse.

With these facts in mind, as a nursing home negligence attorney in Chicago, we want you to know some of the more common types of nursing home negligence.

• Emotional neglect. This type of neglect occurs when a staff member snaps at a patient or the patient is repe
  atedly left alone and ignored.
• Neglect of personal hygiene. If a patient is not given adequate help with basics such as bathing, crushing their teeth, cleaning, doing laundry or any other form of hygienic activity, that is neglect of personal hygiene.
• Basic needs neglect. This form of neglect involves the inability of a facility to provide basic amenities such as food, water and a safe environment.
• Medical neglect. Staff are not paying adequate attention to things such as bed sores, cuts, infections, lack of mobility and cognitive diseases.

The two most common types of physical injuries we see in Nursing Homes are:

• Fall down injuries, including broken bones, broken hips, and head injuries; and
• Bed sores, also called pressure ulcers, which result when a patient is not properly managed based on their ability to move their bodies themselves.  Pressure ulcers or ‘bed sores’ develop because a person is left with their skin in contact with a bed too long.  In fact, long enough for the lack of blood flow and for the pressure to break down the tissue and cause a wound in that part of the body which get progressively worse, until there is a serious risk of injury and even death.

If you have a loved one or friend in a nursing home, and you encounter any of these signs of neglect, contact us today and arrange a free, no-obligation consultation with a nursing home negligence attorney in Chicago.

Just call me at my 24/7/365 toll free number 888-HURT-318 (888-487-8318) and we will be happy to speak with you and answer your questions.

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