Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Many families agonize over choosing the right nursing home for an elderly loved one, once the aging family member develops care needs that exceed the family’s ability. Families would like to trust that the facility they chose lives up to the standards promised in their glossy ads. Sadly, despite the staff’s compassionate tones when families deliver a loved one into their care, most nursing homes in Arizona and elsewhere are chronically understaffed, leading to under-trained and overwhelmed caregivers—an environment conducive to neglect and abuse. Worse, it’s challenging to make an informed choice due to Arizona’s unique rating system, which departs from the federal method and consistently delivers high ratings despite questionable outcomes and histories of nursing home wrongful death lawsuits.

If your loved one has suffered harm in a care facility, an experienced Arizona nursing home abuse lawyer can help you investigate the situation and seek justice.

Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Occur?

According to data from the Nursing Home Abuse Center, as many as five million elderly Americans suffer abuse each year, many of whom reside in nursing homes and depend on caregivers. Nursing home caregivers face demanding workloads in an emotionally challenging work environment with few opportunities for advancement. This leads to high staff turnover rates, understaffing, and often undertrained caregivers in units with unrealistic nurse-to-resident ratios.

Facing an unpleasant environment and challenging work causes distress, irritability, short tempers, and sometimes lackadaisical care with inadequate supervision by registered nurses in charge of units. An astonishing 81% of nursing home staff members in a survey of 577 nursing home aides and nurses reported witnessing abuse in their facilities.

What Types of Nursing Home Abuse Occur in Arizona?

Only 48 of the 142 registered nursing homes in Arizona received five-out-of-five-star ratings, meaning many nursing homes fail to live up to the state’s requirement to provide skilled, compassionate care with respect for each resident’s human dignity. Common types of abuse in nursing homes in Arizona include the following:

• Physical abuse, such as shoving, hitting, kicking, pinching, and unnecessary physical or chemical restraints
• Neglect, such as failure to provide adequate hydration, nutrition, hygiene, and prescribed medications
• Emotional abuse, such as yelling, name-calling, belittling, mocking, insulting, threatening, or intimidating
• Sexual abuse, including penetration and any unwanted sexual touching by caregivers, staff, other residents, or visitors
• Financial abuse, such as unauthorized access to a resident’s accounts, unauthorized financial transactions, stealing personal items, or using a resident’s home and car

Some nursing home residents report their abuse to the nursing home administrators or their family members, but others may be physically or cognitively unable to report abuse. Many nursing home residents do not report abuse due to feelings of shame or embarrassment. Because nursing home abuse is widely underreported, it’s crucial to recognize the following common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect:

• Unexplained injuries
• Poor hygiene and unkempt appearance
• Broken personal items, such as glasses, hearing aids, and dentures
• Torn or bloodied clothing or bed linens
• Restraint marks
• Sudden weight loss
• Dry, cracked skin and lips
• Untreated or infected bed sores
• Frequent infections
• Medication mistakes
• Bruising or bleeding from or around the private parts
• Uneaten meals remaining in the room
• Unclean room, bathroom, and bedding
• Broken, poorly maintained, or inadequate mobility assistance devices
• Reluctance to speak in front of caregivers
• Sudden changes in behavior or demeanor
• Social withdrawal

Nearly 25% of family members of nursing home residents report at least one instance of abuse to their elderly loved one.

What Are the Impacts of Nursing Home Abuse In Arizona?

The elderly are more than just physically fragile; they are also emotionally vulnerable due to being away from their homes, families, and familiar environments. Both physical and emotional abuse take a heavy toll on the elderly, leading to a decline in their quality of life, increased injuries and illness, anxiety, depression, and shortened life expectancy. Some nursing home abuse and neglect cases directly cause death from injuries, dehydration, malnutrition, medication mistakes, or sepsis from untreated or chronic infections.

What to Do If You See Signs of Nursing Home Abuse Or Neglect

Arizona’s Division of Licensing Services’ Bureau of Long-Term Care is responsible for licensing nursing homes in the state and conducting regular Medicare and Medicaid inspections. When a family member of an Arizona nursing home resident suspects abuse or neglect, they should first report the abuse to the nursing home administrators and through Arizona’s elder abuse reporting system. Then, do the following:

• Report the abuse to local law enforcement
• Have the elderly loved one undergo a complete medical assessment by a doctor unrelated to the facility
• Take photos of any visible injuries, broken personal items, torn clothing, or anything relevant to the abuse
• Call an attorney with the knowledge, resources, and experience necessary to make a compelling case for compensation

When a loved one suffers harm at the hands of those tasked with their care in a nursing home, it’s devastating for family members as well as the resident. The abuse may also have economic impacts on the entire family.

Proving Liability In Arizona Nursing Home Abuse Cases

Nursing home and long-term care facilities have a duty of care to take all reasonable measures to prevent the elderly residents in their care from experiencing injuries. Nursing home abuse is an egregious violation of the duty of care. When the negligent or wrongful actions against an Arizona nursing home resident cause injuries with financial damages and pain and suffering, the nursing home is liable for the damages.

What Damages Are Available for Compensation In a Nursing Home Abuse Case?

A nursing home resident who suffers abuse may require hospitalization, extended medical care, rehabilitation, and emotional therapy. A successful claim against the nursing home requires proving liability and also showing evidence of economic and non-economic damages. Compensation for damages in Arizona nursing home abuse cases often includes reimbursement of medical expenses, future medical costs, a family member’s lost wages if they took time away from work, and an amount for pain and suffering and diminished quality of life. If the abuse or neglect caused an elderly loved one’s death in an Arizona nursing home, a close family member could recover wrongful death benefits.

How Can an Arizona Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Help?

Nursing home abuse cases are challenging to prove. Compensation in successful cases typically comes from the facility’s liability insurance. Sadly, insurance companies are not on your family’s side and may protect their profits at your loved one’s expense. Call Knapp & Roberts to speak to an Arizona elder abuse attorney about your nursing home abuse case so we can take action to give your loved one a voice for justice.