Category: nursing home abuse and neglect

Whether you are searching for a nursing home for yourself or trying to help a loved one find suitable care, it is crucial that you choose a quality facility. While a majority of nursing facilities do genuinely care about their residents and their well-being, there are quite a few that provide lackluster service. Not only can this make for an unpleasant living experience, it can also endanger the health of residents.

That is why choosing the right nursing home is so important. The AARP offers the following suggestions to help you during the selection process, so you can rest assured that your best interests or the best interests of your loved one are a priority.

Review online ratings in detail

Online reviews provide great insight into the quality of a home, which is why they are the best place to start your search. When doing research, it is important to drill down past the general ratings to gauge each individual component. Look for reviews of the staff, the meals provided, activities, and all other factors that would give an impression of the overall quality of the place.

Do not let price be the only guiding factor

Some people think the more expensive the nursing home facility is, the better the care provided. However, this is not the only indicator of a quality nursing home. There are many other factors to be considered, from the experience and training of the staff to the safety measures in place to preserve the safety of the residents. On the other hand, do not choose the least expensive facility out of budgeting concerns.

Pay attention to the residents during your visit

While research is crucial when making your decision, you should also pay a visit to a few possible homes in person. While there, pay close attention to any residents you meet during your visit. Do they seem upbeat or depressed? Are they dressed in clean clothing or is their appearance shabby? Do they have nice things to say about the staff or the facility itself? If current residents seem displeased by their experience, chances are the nursing home is not up to your standards.

Tennessee nursing homes which accept Medicare or Medicaid patients, like those throughout the country, have to submit to periodic inspections.

These regular surveys by government officials, which also involve on-site visits, record reviews and the like, focus on both whether patients are receiving the appropriate level of care and the quality of that care.

The results of these surveys help the government decide whether it will continue to pay for patients enrolled in the federally funded health plans.

As a side note, in addition to regular surveys, government officials may also do targeted checks of nursing homes in response to complaints from the public about poor care.

If a nursing home consistently falls short when it comes to caring for its residents, it is quite possible that it will no longer be allowed to take patients on Medicaid or Medicare. This can be a death-knell for a nursing home which counts on that income.

In other cases, poor survey results will land a facility in the Special Focus Facility program, a government initiative which is designed to help troubled nursing homes improve their quality of care.

Nursing homes in this program each at some point in the recent past shown a pattern of substandard care or have had major problems, including problems which actually caused an injury.

These and the reports or enforcement actions which come out of them can provide a treasure trove of information for Knoxville families who suspect their loved one may be a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect.

However, government enforcement actions do not themselves secure compensation for victims. Victims or their families would have to file a separate legal action.

Both nursing home abuse and neglect are a growing concern in the United States. While there are laws in place to protect elder persons’ rights, the incidence rates for both are far too high.

While abuse refers to the maltreatment of a person, neglect refers to the failure of a caregiver to provide a resident with proper care. Though many people assume abuse is far worse, the truth is that neglect can be just as dangerous, and even deadly.

How negligence occurs

Negligence can occur in a number of different ways. However, according to NursingHomeAbuseGuide.org, some types of neglect are more prevalent than others in nursing homes. Common examples of neglect include the following:

• Isolation
• Malnutrition
• Lack of proper care
• Improper medication management
• Falls
• Dehydration

Ongoing neglect can result in the serious harm or even death of a resident. Families can protect elderly loved ones by keeping an eye out for signs of neglect, which may include but are not limited to sudden weight loss, depression, agitation, bedsores, contusions, filth, bruises and open sores.

The consequences of ongoing neglect

According to Nursing Home Abuse Justice, ongoing neglect can have significant adverse consequences on a resident’s emotional and physical health and well-being. In terms of physical health, neglect can lead to untreated dental or medical issues, which can grow into constantly or life-threatening complications. Victims of neglect often become malnourished and more prone to illness and injury. Many also develop dehydration, fatigue or anemia. In some elderly individuals, these health consequences result in death.

The emotional consequences of neglect are just as damaging. Victims of neglect often develop depression or anxiety or become fearful of others. They undergo personality changes and may exhibit aggression or distrust. Insomnia and sleep loss are also common outcomes of neglect, as is substance abuse and suicidal behavior.

You put your aging mother or father into a Tennessee-based nursing home, hoping to provide your loved one with superior care. While your parent may not suffer physical abuse, that does not rule out other forms of abuse, such as financial. 

WebMD describes financial abuse of the elderly and what to do about it. Understand how to protect your mother or father both physically and financially. 

Breaking down financial abuse  

Depending on your parent’s overall mental or physical health, you may have to help with finances. While looking over your loved one’s bank accounts, you may notice some odd withdrawals, ones your mother or father cannot explain. Or, there could be missing or suddenly altered legal documents. Both are examples of financial abuse. While missing bank account statements and unpaid bills could be signs of such conditions as Alzheimer’s or dementia, they could also be the work of unscrupulous nursing staff members taking advantage of residents. 

Taking action on financial abuse  

So, you think your loved one may be a victim of elderly financial abuse. What next? It is in everyone’s interest that you take action as soon as possible, no matter how negligible your suspicions may seem. Sit down and talk with your mother or father about your suspicions, explaining your concerns and your desire to help. Pay close attention to how your parent responds. Unusual reluctance to speak or outright silence could indicate signs of coercion or threats. 

You may also need to contact Adult Protective Services to help you handle the situation. After making your report, an official investigates your concerns and ensures that your parent is safe. 

Do not sit idly by if you suspect financial abuse of your mother or father. Talk with a legal representative to formulate a strategy. 

Not all Tennessee nursing homes have problems. Many families are able to find a suitable place that cares for their loved one. However, some Tennesseans are not so fortunate. A report by the Knoxville News Sentinel described negligence of care discovered in a number of nursing homes in the state, including one in Knoxville. These deficiencies in care have resulted in injury and contributed to the deaths of some nursing home residents.

As explained by the Knoxville News Sentinel, a common problem with these deficient nursing homes is a lack of staffing. Because of an inadequate number of care workers, residents suffered from a lack of proper care. It was common in these understaffed homes to find residents suffering from bedsores. There were also residents who had lost an excessive amount of weight, with some suffering from a lack of hygiene that contributed to infections.

Negligence in care was also found to cause serious injury. One nursing home resident suffered knee fractures after sliding out of bed during a changing of bed sheets. Her fall was not reported until she screamed in pain. A nursing home in Maryville had residents suffering multiple falls, with one resident falling nine times and experiencing one fracture. In a nursing home in Johnson City, residents were restrained, which put them at risk of hurting themselves because they tried to get free.

Medication errors were also common among the negligent homes, with some homes suffering medication errors above the federal standard. In a Humboldt home, a nurse provided a diabetic resident with an excessive amount of insulin that put the resident into a coma. A Madison nursing home failed to provide residents with needed insulin and also provided incorrect blood pressure and cardiac medication.

These examples provide an idea of the forms of negligent care that take place in some Tennessee nursing homes. Mismanaged care can significantly degrade the health of a senior citizen or even result in death. It is crucial to seek assistance if abuse or neglect is occurring to preserve the life of the resident being abused and if necessary, prepare for possible civil litigation.

Nursing home abuse and neglect can take place right under your nose. Many types of abuse and neglect are invisible; Unless a resident tells you about the abuse, it may be hard to know it’s taking place.

As someone who wants to make sure your loved one is safe and cared for, knowing the signs of abuse is important. Here are three kinds of invisible abuse to look for.

1. Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is among the worst kinds of invisible abuse. There are no physical injuries, but your loved one’s mental state may suffer. Whether it’s being verbally abused with name-calling or told they aren’t valuable and that no one loves them, it’s a difficult type of abuse to deal with. How can you recognize it? Look for signs of depression or changes in normal behaviors.

2. Financial abuse

Unless you’re in charge of your loved one’s financial accounts, financial abuse is another difficult kind of abuse to recognize. You may recognize financial abuse is occurring if you find that your loved one is not paying bills on time or if their accounts keep running low at a nursing home despite having funds deposited regularly.

3. Psychological abuse

Psychological abuse is not necessarily the same as emotional abuse. Psychological abuse can include harassment, bullying and behaviors intending to harm your loved one’s mental state. While emotional abuse can include psychological abuse, it’s not necessarily the same. Recognize it by looking for changes in behavior or negative reactions to certain staff members.

These are three types of invisible abuse that you have to look for. If you notice them, it is time to seek help.

Nursing homes are supposed to be safe spaces for the elderly to receive the care they need as they age. Many people who reach the need for a nursing home are unable to perform some of their daily tasks on their own. They may have advanced health conditions that lead to confusion or weakness, memory difficulties or other problems that require around-the-clock care.

When you place a loved one in a nursing home, you want to know that the staff is experienced and trained well. You want to know that your loved one is safe. If you do your research, you can find a nursing home that provides the care you expect. However, there are many that do not reach the standard of care you would want your loved one to experience.

Did you know that around a third of all nursing homes expose residents to abuse of some form? Abuse may take the form of malnutrition and neglect, physical abuse, exploitation or sexual abuse, for example. Interestingly, around 90 percent of those who abuse the elderly are known to the residents. That means that the abusers may be other residents, nursing home staff members, family or friends.

Why is it important to ask about the staff’s background?

Did you know that around 92 percent of all nursing homes have hired a convicted criminal? Nursing home employees aren’t required to go through background checks. Ask about the employees in the home you’re considering, so you know if the facility has stricter requirements.

These are some shocking statistics, but they may help you understand how to find the right nursing home.

Placing a loved one into a nursing home is hard. It might be the last resort after trying in-home health care options or attempting to care for them yourself. The reality is that many people need to go into nursing homes, especially as they approach the end of their lives.

If you’re worried about placing a loved one in a nursing home, you’re not alone. There are so many terrible stories about abuse and neglect that it’s hard to imagine putting someone in one of these facilities. Fortunately, for every horror story, there are many stories of people who have great experiences. You just have to be aware of the risks and do what you can to mitigate them.

How can you prevent nursing home abuse?

One of the best ways to prevent abuse is by being present. Often, it’s elders who are left alone or without visitors who end up facing abuse. If you make yourself known and get to know the staff, you’re less likely to have problems.

If a problem does occur, you’ll have connections to help you resolve it. Additionally, you’ll be more familiar with the relationship between your loved one and the staff members.

Another thing to do is to speak up when you see problems. If your loved one mentions waiting too long to get to the bathroom because the nurses were too busy, it’s worth bringing this to the attention of the nursing home director. Hiring more staff members or giving some current members more hours could help eliminate the problem and help your loved one get better care.

There is little more important than the safety and comfort of our relatives. It can be difficult to make the decision to move an elderly relative into an assisted living facility or nursing home. But once that decision is made, we must hope that the facility’s medical professionals and staff members have the same concern for our seniors’ lives as we do.

Tennessee has dozens of nursing homes run by several large and independent agencies. Most patients and residents in these facilities are safe and happy, but several have suffered due to staff abuse or neglect of their most fundamental needs.

One Arlington nursing home has been enjoined from accepting new patients while state health inspectors investigate the allegation that a resident was hidden in a closet during a scheduled inspection. The facility outside Memphis has been cited for several other violations as well, including the death of a patient from a preventable ulcer after staff did not elevate her legs as prescribed.

The hidden resident was actually not a “resident” at all, as she was living in the home without records. Staff members tried to claim she was only a day patient, then gave a fake name for her to investigators after the elderly woman was found sitting inside a storage closet. She claimed to have been living there “off the books” for nine months.

Victims f nursing home abuse and neglect have the right to ask for compensation for their injuries. An attorney can help review the details of a case of abuse or neglect and prepare a case to restore justice to the victim and his or her family.

One of the most important decisions we can make for our elder relatives is to commit them to reliable round-the-clock care if the necessity appears. Many facilities across the Volunteer State help fulfill these needs, but families must be vigilant to prevent abuse or neglect among residents in nursing homes.

A nursing home in Tennessee has been forbidden from accepting new patients while authorities investigate a possible case of neglect for a disabled patient. The alleged victim, an elderly woman with dementia, was bedridden when she suffered a fall from bed and fractured both of her knees.

The problem became worse when she was returned to bed without seeing a doctor or received medical attention. The patient was reportedly in agony for nine days before she was sent to the hospital, although her health had declined to the point that she died a month later under care.

The Tennessee Department of Health cited the Knoxville residential facility and fined it $30,000 in connection to delays in the patient’s care. The department’s commissioner stated the nursing home appeared below state standards for administration, improved performance, nursing services, radiology and patient rights.

Citations, fines and even criminal charges against individuals or administrators may shift the conduct of nursing homes and their operators to make them safer and more comfortable for residents. Once it has already affected someone’s health and safety, however, a civil lawsuit may be the last resort to claim financial damages for a specific victim.

An attorney is often a powerful ally for the victims of nursing home abuse as well as their relatives. Consider legal representation to restore justice and dignity to residents in assisted care.