New Jersey Nursing Home Lawyers
Neglect is a serious and dangerous problem in nursing homes. It can be difficult to spot if there is not an incident, such as a nursing home resident wandering off and the family being notified. Neglect can easily result in an accident, but more often there is a decline in health that is easily mistaken for the normal result of aging. If you believe that your loved one has been a victim of nursing home neglect, please talk to our New Jersey nursing home lawyers right away.
Recognizing Nursing Home Neglect
In some nursing homes the signs of neglect are very obvious, but many nursing homes will put on their best appearances during visiting hours and give your loved one extra attention while you are present. The staff members may seem very caring and attentive, and even if the staff members on duty during the day are truly taking very good care of your loved one, the nightshift may be terribly understaffed. Nursing home patients need 24 hour supervision and care.
Signs of nursing home neglect include:
- Weight loss
- Clothes becoming too large
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- Unexplained bruises or injuries
- Sunburn
- Frozen joints
- Bedsores
- Infections
- Exposure to declared allergens
- Recurring illnesses
- Medication errors
- Heavy sedation
- Physical restraints
- Behavioral changes
- Dirty bedding
- Dirty clothes
- Poor hygiene
- Poor grooming
- Elopement or wandering away from the nursing home
Sometimes a single resident or just a few residents will become victims of intentional neglect, but in most cases neglect is a problem throughout the entire facility or sections of the facility. Signs to look out for include a noticeable odor of urine or feces, residents who need supervision wandering the hallways, other residents frequently ill or injured, or violent altercations between residents. Incidents of neglect frequently go unreported leading to the family or doctor.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse in New Jersey, please call our New Jersey nursing home lawyers today or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation with our nursing home lawyers is free, and if we agree to represent you, we will work for a contingent fee, which means we won’t get paid for our services unless you receive a settlement or an award. In New Jersey, a personal injury lawsuit must be filed before the expiration of the statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.