Signs and Symptoms of Nursing Home Negligence | New Mexico Attorneys

New Mexico residents know that it is challenging to let go of the responsibility that accompanies caring for an elderly loved one. There are no guarantees that your loved one will be in better hands, although that is what many people expect. Unfortunately, nursing home negligence in New Mexico happens, and it is becoming more prevalent in nursing homes across the nation. Fortunately, our New Mexico elder abuse lawyers are here to represent you and your family in the worst of cases.

As people age, they tend to rely more on the people who surround them because simple tasks become more difficult for them to accomplish. Attorneys know that the elderly population is prone to abuse because of vulnerability that hovers over them while completing daily life tasks.

Nursing homes were established to be soothing environments where the elderly could have needs met by caretakers. Most nursing homes claim to be safe, nurturing environments for residents. Here, caretakers assist patients with tasks that include dressing, hygiene, personal mobility, eating, and taking the proper medications.

Lawyers know that nursing home staff should be well-trained because they have a significant impact on patients. There are many cases where a staff member who is ill-prepared or poorly trained to do a job harms a patient. An unfavorable outcome at the hands of a staff member automatically makes him or her liable for abuse and neglect regardless of intent.

Nursing home negligence lawyers in New Mexico understand patients are under the control of the staff they come in contact with every day. Perpetrators of elder abuse are known to silence patients, threaten by force, intimidate, and manipulate them into believing that no one will ever believe them. For this reason, it is difficult to know the exact statistics surrounding elderly abuse. Because patients do not always have independent connections to the outside world, many cases are kept secret until they vanish.

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of nursing home negligence that attorneys see are:

• Bed injuries
• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Infections
• Falls, fractures, and head injuries
• Bedsores
• Unexplained injuries
• Unsanitary and unclean conditions
• Reluctance to speak while staff members are present
• Unusual or sudden changes in behavior (e.g., fear of being touched, sucking, biting, rocking)
• The unexplained or unexpected death of a patient

Many instances of elder abuse are rooted in the staff’s poor pay and turnover rates. Nursing home negligence lawyers in New Mexico are aware of these problems and understand the myriad issues surrounding New Mexico nursing home negligence.

According to reports filed with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, there were more than 2,217 reported infractions in New Mexico nursing homes in recent years. Furthermore, between 2015 and April 2018, the Albuquerque Journal stated that out of 74 Medicare and Medicaid-certified homes, inspectors reported serious deficiencies in 36 of them. By that measure, New Mexico nursing homes are the worst in the nation. Our New Mexico attorneys are here to help you clarify any doubts you may have about a case regarding your close one.

Carabin Shaw attorneys advise you to be aware of your elderly loved one while they reside in a nursing home. We know New Mexico nursing home negligence is prevalent today. Verbal, physical, and sexual abuse are equal forms of abuse that are present in these environments.

If you believe that a loved one might be a victim of nursing home neglect or abuse in New Mexico, contact Carabin Shaw today. You can reach us online or call our lawyers toll-free at 1-800-862-1260 to receive a free consultation.