In the Los Angeles area and throughout California, multitudes rely on nursing home facilities to care for their elderly loved ones. And eventually, many regret that decision. Many of these precious elderly family members wind up as victims of abuse or outright mistreatment in a nursing home. Insufficient staff training and understaffing are historically the root causes of most nursing home abuse.
It’s sad to report that abuse and neglect in these nursing care facilities is on the rise; in fact, you may have seen or read about cases that are literal nightmares. While most nursing homes remain manned and managed by qualified personnel, other facilities are simply, upon investigation, unacceptable.
The National Center on Elder Abuse is reporting that 36% of the nursing homes in the United States have been cited at least once for abusing the elderly residents in their care. Of course, nursing homes are commercial enterprises with the right and responsibility to earn profits, but it’s never right for earnings to be placed above the well-being and safety of nursing home residents.
In southern California, the most frequent abuse in nursing facilities includes:
- Medical malpractice, neglect, and the ensuing medical complications
- Bed sores and ulcers from failure to tend to those who are bedridden
- Lack of monitoring of residents (resulting in falls or other incidents)
- Dehydration or malnutrition
- Emotional and physical abuse
If you have a loved one in a nursing home in southern California, look for these indications of abuse: bruises, bed sores, cuts, ulcers, unforeseen attitude or temper changes (like withdrawal or depression), thirst, hunger, or an unexpected emergency, coma, or sudden death. Emotional and physical abuse includes any assault, sexual abuse, or unwarranted restraint; worn-out, low-paid personnel at these facilities have sometimes vented their frustrations on their residents, who are for all practical purposes unwilling captives.
If you notice any of these indications of abuse, or if you believe your beloved elderly family member may be a victim of mistreatment by nursing home staff, take the proper action at once and speak to an experienced personal injury attorney who will fight for your family’s rights. A good personal injury attorney can launch an investigation, compile evidence and testimony, and work with other experts who can help you and your family. Nothing is more important than the well-being of your family. An experienced personal injury attorney is the person who can help.