9 Signs You Need to Hire a Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

Moving a family member or a loved one to assisted living is never a simple decision. However, when this time inevitably comes, you want to be sure that the home you pick will give your family or loved ones compassionate and high-quality care. Sadly, elder abuse and nursing home neglect is a very under-reported crime. If you think your loved one may be suffering from abuse, you may need to contact a Kansas City nursing home abuse lawyer to fight for you and your family.

1. Unsanitary Conditions

One of the first signs of neglect is unsanitary conditions in the nursing home or your loved one’s living space. When a nursing home isn’t properly maintained, it speaks volumes about the staff. Another risk of unsanitary conditions is the danger it poses to your elderly loved ones. The elderly often have compromised immune systems. The presence of dust, dirt, and mold aggravates these conditions and can make your family member very sick.

If you see dirty or unclean conditions, then it’s time to call nursing home negligence attorneys. If you’re in the Greater Kansas City Area, contact us here at The Nail Law Firm. We are all too familiar with nursing home abuse & negligence cases and have the best and brightest lawyers ready to fight on behalf of your family member or loved ones who are being abused in their nursing home. Even if you only suspect abuse, it’s crucial to call us right away to ensure your loved one remains safe, happy, and healthy. We have a successful and proven track record of winning these cases, and we will do everything in our power to help you and your family.

2. Over-Medicating

Another sign of potential nursing home neglect is over-medicating. If you notice that your family member or loved one seems disoriented, strange, or is behaving strangely, the cause could be over-medicating. Some other potential medication abuses or neglect signs include withholding medication, giving the wrong medication, or very swift changes in their medication regimen. Any neglect or misuse/abuse of your loved one’s medicine is a serious issue and needs to be addressed immediately.

3. Unexplainable Bruises, Cuts, or Wounds

If your loved one or family member is living in a nursing home, and you have seen cuts, scratches, bruises, or other wounds on them, they could be suffering from abuse. Granted, senior citizens often have accidents, as many of them have limited mobility. However, there’s a big difference between explainable, everyday bruises and unexplainable cuts, scratches, or injuries. Your loved one deserves the best care possible. If you’ve seen numerous injuries on them, please call us so we can help you and your family right away.

If you see injuries on your loved one, the first thing you should do is ask the staff for an accident report or injury report. A high-quality facility providing exceptional care will have staff reports on your family member’s everyday routines and detailed records for any accidents or injuries that have occurred. If you confront the staff about those injuries and they refuse to show you records, your loved one could be in trouble.

4. Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse against the elderly is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. Though people may not like to think about these kinds of things, regrettably, they do happen. Whether the perpetrator is another resident or a staff member, if you suspect sexual abuse, you should immediately call the police and us here at The Nail Law Firm. We will represent you and your family member to help them get the justice they deserve.

5. Soiled Clothes or Bedding

Next time you visit your family member in their long-term care home, inspect their clothing and bed linens. They should be clean, washed, and odor-free. Sadly, many residents of nursing homes can get left in soiled clothes for hours and hours. A quality and reputable nursing home will have regular laundry service and nurses to help your loved ones when they need help with personal care or getting dressed.

6. Changes in Their Behavior or Emotional Well-Being

When your loved one or family member is happy, you can see it shining through their personality. If they’re suffering abuse, you may notice changes in their mood, character, or emotional well-being. If they’re too scared to tell anybody, or they physically can’t, then you may have to pay closer attention to signs like changes in their behavior.

When you need nursing home abuse lawyers to help you determine if your loved one is suffering from emotional abuse, call us here at The Nail Law Firm. We have professional and talented lawyers who specialize in nursing home neglect & abuse cases in Kansas City. We dedicate our team of elderly neglect and abuse attorneys to serve all of our clients with the best legal help possible, and we work very hard to accomplish that goal. We will fight for you and your loved ones to get the compassionate care every human being deserves.

7. Bedsores

One of the first signs of elder abuse in nursing homes is bedsores. Bedsores are extremely painful and only occur when a patient is bed-bound for extended periods. If you’re not sure what a bedsore looks like, it’s a maroon or purple area of skin that’s actually a blood blister. The pressure of the patient’s body weight and never being moved or turned is how bedsores form. Seeing bedsores is a surefire sign of nursing home abuse. Contact us right away if your loved one suffers from bedsores or any other types of neglect or abuse.

8. Severe Weight Loss

If your loved one or family member has had severe or very drastic weight loss, they are most likely being abused. Signs of malnourishment or being refused access to food or water is extremely hazardous to an older person’s health. Weight loss should be taken seriously, even if the staff attempts to explain it away when you confront them. Speak to your family member’s physician if you see drastic weight loss, and then call us.

9. Financial Abuse

Abuse doesn’t have to be physical or emotional. Financial abuse is another serious problem that occurs in long-term care facilities and nursing homes. Any signs of unusual bank account activity can be indicative of financial abuse. Unfortunately, many people choose the elderly as their targets because they either can’t speak up or are afraid of retaliation since they are quite literally at the staff’s mercy. Financial abuse can be many things, including:

• Any unusual bank account activity
• Signatures on financial documents that don’t match
• Missing bank statements or records
• Missing money
• Strange/unexplained purchases on credit cards or bank cards
• Missing checks
• Large or unexplainable withdrawals
• Accounts switched into another name
• Property or assets changed into another name

What to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

The first step to take if you suspect nursing home abuse is to determine if emergency treatment is necessary. If it’s not, take the time to have an open conversation with them if they’re capable of communicating. You should also record any and every instance of suspected abuse—take pictures, video, and note the time and date. Then, the next step is to contact a Kansas City nursing home abuse lawyer, so your loved one can have a professional attorney fighting on their side to get them the care and reparations they deserve.

Here at The Nail Law Firm in Kansas City, we specialize in going after nursing homes, staff, and doctors that are perpetrating abuse to their patients. We believe every person deserves compassionate and humane care, regardless of race, creed, or skin color. If you suspect your family member or loved one is suffering from neglect or abuse, it’s crucial to get them the help they need. Contact us at The Nail Law Firm today and let us help fight for your loved one’s well-being.