Nursing home abuse is important to understand because it is so serious. If you or your family has been impacted by nursing home abuse or neglect, you may wonder what exactly is considered nursing home neglect and what you can do about it. There are an estimated 3.2 Americans in approximately 17,000 nursing homes throughout the country so nursing home abuse and neglect can impact many patients.
In general, nursing home abuse refers to physically or psychologically abusing or financially exploiting patients. When nursing home staff has abused an elderly victim, nursing home staff or a nursing homes may be liable to victims and their families for the harm suffered. Another type of nursing home abuse is nursing home neglect.
Because the definition of nursing home neglect can differ by state, it is important to know the laws in your state. In general nursing home abuse can include failure to provide patients with adequate food; failure to provide patients with appropriate and safe shelter; failure to provide appropriate clothing for the environment; failure to provide bathing services; failure to provide timely medical care; and in circumstances when patients are not properly supervised by staff and medical providers.
Nursing home neglect to result in injuries and even death which is why legal resources, including personal injury and wrongful death legal resources, are available to victims of nursing home neglect and nursing home abuse. It is important for victims and their families to be familiar with legal remedies available to help them with the physical, financial and emotional damages they have suffered.
