Has Your Loved One Suffered Any of these Nursing Home Injuries?

An estimated 1.6 million Americans are currently living in nursing homes, and each year far too many of these Americans will experience some form of nursing home neglect. Studies have suggested that as many as one in ten elderly individuals will experience elder abuse, meaning that this problem is widespread and a serious cause for concern. And if you live in New Mexico, the prognosis is even worse—a recent report concluded that our state has the worst nursing homes in the nation.

If your loved one is currently living in a nursing home, you should know that certain injuries can be indicative of nursing home neglect. Our New Mexico nursing home negligence lawyers at Carabin Shaw have compiled a list of injuries that are frequently associated with nursing home abuse. Read on to learn what our New Mexico elder abuse lawyers want you to know.

Dehydration is the most widespread form of elder abuse and neglect experienced by residents of assisted living facilities. One study that involved monitoring the fluid intake of nursing home residents found that nearly all of the patients were inadequately hydrated—and more than half of these residents had illnesses that may have been caused by dehydration. Dehydration can lead to extremely serious complications, including brain swelling, seizures, kidney failure, coma, or even death.

Similarly, malnutrition is another major concern that is all-too common among nursing home residents. Among the 1.6 million residents of nursing homes in the U.S., it is estimated that as many as one third of these elderly patients are suffering from malnutrition and dehydration. Despite the fact that malnutrition is highly preventable, some researchers estimate that between 30 and 50% of nursing home residents are underweight due to a lack of adequate nutrition.

Keeping an eye on your loved one can help to ensure that their nutritional needs are being met. Weight loss, canker sores, yellowed skin, irritability, muscle fatigue, and red or glassy eyes can all be signs of malnourishment, which is considered a form of New Mexico nursing home negligence.

Pressure ulcers—or bedsores—are painful injuries to the skin and its underlying tissue that are the result of prolonged pressure on the skin. The main cause of bedsores is prolonged immobility and can develop in just a short period of time. Although most bedsores will heal with treatment, some bedsores will never completely heal.

Because bedsores are preventable even among patients with mobility issues, they are often considered a red flag that a nursing home patient is not receiving the proper care in a nursing facility. Most caregivers are supposed to move the patient each day, and check on residents every day to ensure that they are repositioned to prevent bedsores from developing.

If it seems like your relative is frequently falling ill or becoming injured, you should know that this is a serious red flag for abuse. Frequent bruises or cuts, as well as unexplained broken bones, are frequently a sign that physical abuse is occurring. If you have any reason to suspect that physical abuse is occurring, it’s crucial that you contact an attorney as soon as possible.

Has your loved one suffered any of these nursing home injuries? You may be able to receive damages for New Mexico nursing home negligence by filing a personal injury claim with the help of an attorney.

Our compassionate and knowledgeable New Mexico elder abuse lawyers at Carabin Shaw have a combined 200 years of legal experience and a winning track record when it comes to nursing home neglect cases. Our nursing home negligence lawyers serving New Mexico will do everything in their power to fight for you so that you can get justice—and compensation—for your loved one.

To receive a free consultation with an experienced lawyer serving New Mexico, call us today at 915-779-2301. Don’t wait – find out what our New Mexico attorneys can do for you.