What are Some Common Injuries Caused by Nursing Home Neglect in Tennessee?
The decision to place an elderly relative in the care of a nursing home is never an easy one. Sometimes, elderly people develop health and safety needs that their families cannot meet on their own. These families entrust the care of their loved ones to nursing homes with the expectation that their needs will be met. After all, nursing homes are in the business of providing around-the-clock care for adults who need it when their families are unable to provide it.
Unfortunately, some nursing homes neglect their residents. Elderly adults may not receive proper nutrition, adequate hygiene, sufficient interpersonal contact, and other things that they need. Nursing home neglect results in a few common types of injuries. If you notice that your relative has developed one of the following conditions, it may be time to take a closer look at how they are being cared for.
Chronic dehydration can occur in elderly adults who do not receive proper care. When a person loses more fluid than they consume, they become dehydrated. Many people who are in nursing homes cannot communicate to their caregivers when they are thirsty. If they are not mobile, they may not be able to access fluids on their own. Dehydration is therefore likely if caregivers do not offer fluids frequently enough. Early warning signs of dehydration include a dry or sticky mouth, decreased urine output, and dry skin. If a nursing home resident is allowed to remain dehydrated, additional symptoms may arise, including confusion, rapid breathing, low blood pressure, and sunken eyes. If left unattended, dehydration can eventually result in unconsciousness, kidney failure, seizures, and even death.
Sepsis is another injury which commonly results from neglect in a nursing home setting. Sepsis occurs when a severe infection causes inflammation throughout the entire body. Proper treatment of infections prevents sepsis. When an individual with an infection does not receive adequate care, they may develop symptoms of sepsis, such as a rapid heart rate and fast breathing. As sepsis becomes more severe, the affected person may have trouble breathing and could also experience a change in mental state and difficulties with heart function. If severe sepsis progresses to septic shock, blood pressure drops rapidly and does not respond well to efforts to raise it. When blood pressure remains low, blood flow to vital organs is decreased, and death from multiple organ failure may result.
Nursing home residents are at an increased risk for infections due to their advanced age and the close quarters in which they live. Getting an infection like influenza, a urinary tract infection, or scabies is not necessarily an indicator of abuse or neglect. However, advancement or persistence of the infection may be a sign that a nursing home resident is not receiving adequate care. If infections are not treated properly, they can cause additional health problems and can even result in death. For example, influenza is a common cause of death among elderly adults because it can progress into pneumonia and respiratory failure.
If someone that you love has been neglected by a nursing home, it is important that you speak with an attorney right away. The experienced Tennessee nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC will sit down with you to learn about your case, explain your options, and help you decide how to proceed. To learn more, call us at (888) 470-9143 to schedule a time to discuss your case. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.