There are a lot of ways nursing home residents can suffer from mistreatment at the hands of their caretakers. These include physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial exploitation, sexual abuse, and neglect. Of these types of abuse, neglect is unique in that it is not an overt form of mistreatment, but a lack of appropriate care. A nursing home resident can be neglected by not receiving adequate nutrition, appropriate medical care, not receiving enough water, living in a dirty environment, or failing to receive mental and social stimulation.
If you suspect your loved one is suffering from neglect, it’s important to act quickly. Wisconsin families have several options: reporting concerns to the facility’s administration, contacting the Wisconsin Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, filing a complaint with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, or reporting suspected elder abuse to county Adult Protective Services. An experienced elder law attorney can help you decide which steps make sense for your situation, and whether legal action against the facility is warranted.
Your Loved One Could be Neglected If:
- He or she is losing weight rapidly. This can be a sign of insufficient nutrition. It can also be a sign of a health condition, which could be the result of insufficient medical care. Talk to your loved one’s caretakers about his or her weight loss to determine its cause.
- His or her room is dirty. When you visit, take time to note whether the room itself is well-maintained or not. If the room is cluttered, smells bad, or is simply dusty and appears as if it has not been cleaned, discuss your concern with the nursing home’s staff.
- Your loved one experiences a sudden personality change. He or she might become withdrawn, anxious, irritable, or otherwise unlike his or her former self. This could be due to dementia or a change in his or her medical care, but it can also be a sign of neglect or another type of abuse.
- He or she is suffering physically. Bedsores or an unattended injury can mean that your loved one does not have regular contact with his or her caretakers or that he or she has been left in one position for a prolonged period of time; and
- Your loved one is dirty. If he or she cannot bathe himself or herself, the caretaker should be doing these tasks. If your loved one smells or otherwise has not bathed recently, he or she could be suffering from neglect.
If you notice any of these signs, start documenting what you see right away. Take dated photos of injuries, bedsores, or the condition of your loved one’s room. Keep a written log of your visits, including the date, time, what you observed, and any conversations with staff. Request copies of your loved one’s medical records, care plan, and any incident reports from the facility. This documentation can be critical if you later need to file a complaint with regulators or pursue a legal claim.
Neglect can occur when nursing home staff are overburdened or underqualified to care for their residents’ needs. No matter why it occurs, it can have serious consequences.
Finally, be aware: time matters. Strict legal deadlines apply to nursing home neglect claims in Wisconsin, and evidence becomes harder to gather the longer you wait. If you suspect neglect, don’t delay in speaking with an attorney about your options.
Work with an Experienced La Crosse Elder Law Attorney
When your loved one resides in a nursing home, you naturally want to ensure that he or she is receiving the best care possible. Do this by being a consistent presence in his or her life, which can mean making regular visits and phone calls. If you suspect your loved one is not receiving the proper level of care from his or her caregivers, contact an experienced elder law attorney to discuss your options. Our team of experienced elder law attorneys at Moen Sheehan Meyer, Ltd. can help you.