Placing a loved one in a nursing home is not an easy step to take, but it is a decision that more and more residents in New Mexico and elsewhere are faced with. As the average life expectancy continues to increase, the reality is that many elderly people are unable to care for themselves in their old age. While some family members are able to take this task on, many are moved into a nursing home facility to obtain the care that they require on a daily basis.
While a nursing home facility can be a very safe environment for residents, providing them with timely and quality care, the unfortunate reality is that some nursing homes present concerns of abuse and neglect. What types of nursing homes have an increased risk of neglect?
According to current studies, it was discovered that for-profit nursing homes have a lower quality of care. Furthermore, a recent study found that residents at these nursing homes are almost twice as likely to experience adverse health problems due to their low standard of care.
The study pointed out that clinical signs of neglect, which includes bedsores and injuries, rarely occur on their own. In other words, many of these injuries are due to neglect and poor quality of care. Harm caused by neglect can get rather severe, including severe dehydration, broken catheters and feeding tubes and improperly managing medications for serious and chronic conditions.
If a loved one suspects that an elderly family member is a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, it is important to fully understand this situation. A civil action could help hold a nursing home accountable while also assisting with the recovery of compensation for damages suffered.