Unfortunately, nursing homes are also a place known for abuse and neglect. According to the National Center of Elder Abuse, 7 percent of the complaints that come from a long-term care facility were complaints of abuse or neglect. In fact, nearly 1 in 3 nursing homes in the United States were cited for violations that could cause or actually did cause harm to its residents.
It’s hard to think about your loved one being abused in a place where he/she should feel safe. You may not even know for sure if your elderly family member is being neglected. And although bruises can always be explained away by trips, falls, or just normal clumsiness, one sign of abuse cannot be explained away — bedsores. When a resident spends a large amount of time in bed, he/she will develop lesions. To prevent lesions from developing, the nursing staff should be encouraging the resident to move around and shift positions every couple of hours. However, with an overworked staff, they may fail to do this simple task.
If your loved one has bedsores, it very well could be a sign of nursing home abuse. For more than 26 years, the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone has been handing nursing home abuse cases throughout New Jersey. Contact us today for a free consultation.