Nursing home staff has an obligation to provide patients and residents with a certain standard of care. This includes making sure they have what they need to be healthy and happy, from providing medication to making sure their nutritional needs are met. Nursing home patients who experience neglect may be unsure of how to speak out, or they may be unable to speak when they do not receive care that meets a certain standard.
Wyoming families may notice troubling things that may indicate their loved one is experiencing neglect. One of the most common signs of lack of care in a nursing home is disorientation and confusion. This may indicate overmedication or missing medications. If a loved one is dealing with incontinence, it may mean he or she does not have help getting to the bathroom, getting up or cleaning. This can result in skin problems.
When a nursing home patient loses a lot of weight or is excessively dehydrated, this could also be a sign of neglect. Broken bones or bruises may mean that a patient is not getting the help he or she needs to move around safely. Neglect can also lead to depression and patients becoming withdrawn or agitated.
In Wyoming and elsewhere, nursing home neglect is unacceptable. If a family believes a loved one is a victim, it may be possible to pursue a civil claim to hold responsible parties fully accountable, including financial compensation. An evaluation of the individual situation can determine if there is a problem with neglect or other type of abuse, and what options are available.
