Cullan & Cullan M.D., J.D. | Arizona Legal Blog

Nursing homes are supposed to provide help and care for their residents so that they can live as happily as possible in their final years. Failing to provide these services and neglecting nursing home residents is a terrible form of nursing home negligence.

Nursing home negligence can come in many different forms. When patients are ignored, abused, and even assaulted, the nursing home should be held responsible for negligence, and injured residents and their families if the resident was wrongfully killed can recover compensation. Some of the signs of common nursing home negligence include:

• Bruising/Broken Bones - Whether they were cause by abuse or by falling down, broken bones and serious bruises should be prevented.
• Change in Mood/Behavior - Your loved one could be getting overmedicated and suffering from doctors and nursing home staff that are unaware of how medications are interacting with each other
• Sudden Weight Loss - Some nursing homes are so understaffed that they may negligently and sometimes intentionally set food out of reach of residents so that they cannot get the nutrients they need to live healthy lives
• Poor Hygiene - If the sheets are dirty or if your loved one looks dirty and unkempt, it could be the result of being nursing home neglect and not getting assistance when going to the bathroom or washing. If you see this, take photographs, file a written complaint, determine whether it is necessary to move your loved one to a different facility.

Nursing home negligence is a serious event and should be dealt with as soon as possible. If you suspect that your loved one's nursing homes is negligent in their care, please contact the nursing home abuse attorneys at Cullan & Cullan M.D., J.D. to schedule an initial consultation by calling 602.200.9999.