Forgotten Care: Life In A Nursing Home

Have you ever heard the expression, “Nursing homes are like Starbucks, they’re popping up everywhere”? Then you start to notice them and think, “Wow, they’re right. That’s the third one to come to town in the last 9 months”. Then you deduce that they must be making money or they wouldn’t build so many.

Well, not all nursing homes are the same. Some skimp by and try to cut corners so they save a nickel here and a dime there. And, before you know it they are pinching dollars out of everything. They cut back on their personnel in hopes to maximize their profit performance. If they can get six people doing the job ten are supposed to do, that’s a great deal of savings the nursing home can pocket.

In order for the reduced nursing facility staff to keep up with their required duties they need to rush the care they deliver to patients. And sometimes that care is forgotten altogether. Often times that care is more like abuse.

Unfortunately, this scenario of understaffing plays out across the nation and ultimately it effects the patients. The patients can experience abuse, neglect, injuries, asphyxiation, infections, bedsores, dehydration and malnutrition. Doesn’t sound like a fun place to put your loved ones in does it?

And sadly, that’s not all. Sexual abuse is on the rise at nursing homes. So is theft of patients belongings, property or assets.

If your loved one does experience abuse, neglect, injuries or the host of other maladies they can become withdrawn. They can show signs of aggression, agitation or signs of reluctance. They could be afraid to speak up or they distance themselves from others or feel fear when being touched. Sometimes they experience behavioral changes like incessant rocking back and forth or they start biting people.

Patients suffering dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s or any cognitive or physical ailment are more prone to neglect and abuse when staff shortages occur. Those patients are sedated, strapped to their beds or left in wheelchairs for hours on end. The patients are confused, frustrated, angry and bewildered.

Imagine if you were strapped to a bed, or left in a wheelchair all day. Wouldn’t you be angry?

Now think how you would feel if that occurred every single day. You’d want to scream. You’d want to tell somebody. But who? Who would believe you? The staff are the ones who neglected you or abused you. They would lie to your loved ones. Until you were injured. Then the staff, of course, would blame you for those injuries because they don’t want to lose their jobs.

That’s not how nursing care facilities are supposed to work. They are supposed to be a safe haven for your loved ones, not a place of abuse and injury.

If you place your loved one in a nursing home, you trust and expect that they will be properly treated. Nursing home abuse and negligence is a growing epidemic, and if you suspect that your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse, you need to take action.

If your loved one has been injured or abused in a nursing home setting, please contact our office for a consultation with an experienced attorney.

We fight for your loved ones, we fight for you and we fight for truth every single day. Call the Law Offices Of David W Holub at +1 (219) 736-9700 today.

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