Your loved one can no longer safely care for herself. Together, you decided that your loved one should reside in a nursing home. You chose her specific nursing home carefully and decided that it was the one that could best meet her physical, emotional, and financial needs. There is great comfort in knowing that your loved one is taken care of, but you have to be careful not to let your guard down.

Unfortunately, even the “best” nursing homes may have incidents of abuse and neglect.

Signs That Your Loved One May Be Abused or Neglected

You and anyone else who is in regular contact with your loved one should be aware of the following signs of potential nursing home abuse and neglect:

  • Unexplained injuries such as bruises, open wounds, or burns.
  • Unexplained weight loss that is not due to a medical condition or medication.
  • Unexplained confusion that is not due to a medical condition or medication.
  • Unexplained financial transactions.
  • Mood changes.
  • Evasiveness or unresponsiveness to questions.
  • Poor hygiene.
  • Dirty clothing or bedding.
  • Frequent infections.
  • Broken bones.
  • Bedsores.
  • Contraction of a sexually transmitted disease.
  • Dehydration or malnutrition.
  • Changes in the amount, timing, or type of medication that were not approved by a doctor.
  • Wandering or elopement without a plan to prevent these actions.
  • Falls.

Even if you can’t be there in person to visit your loved one as often as you would like, you may be able to recognize some of these signs during phone calls with your loved one or nursing home staff.

What to Do If You Suspect an Abuse or Neglect Injury

You don’t need definitive proof to take action if you think that your loved one has been hurt. Instead, you should take immediate action by:

  • Getting your loved one prompt medical attention.
  • Filing a complaint with the Alabama Department of Public Health.
  • Contacting a nursing home abuse or neglect lawyer as soon as possible.

Mobile nursing home abuse lawyer can help you determine exactly what happened and what needs to happen next to keep your loved one safe and compensate her for any abuse or neglect injuries that she suffered in her nursing home. For more information, please reach out to us today via this website or by phone to schedule a confidential consultation.