There are over 67,306 residents living in the 700 nursing home facilities across Pennsylvania.
Here in Philadelphia, there are around 260 of those facilities. The vast majority of those residents are provided with around-the-clock care that helps them maintain a quality of life. Families find that care to be a genuine blessing.
Unfortunately, with so many residents to care for, there are occasional incidents of abuse and neglect. This happens mainly because of a lack of adequate and properly trained staff.
If you have a loved one living in a nursing home, you need to be vigilant when it comes to holding that facility accountable to its agreed-upon standards. When a facility fails in its obligations, the resident’s health can be compromised. That is when intervention is required.
An experienced nursing home abuse lawyer can provide support to a family by acting as their advocate. They can help the family report the issue to the proper authorities and hold the facility accountable.
How To Recognize the Subtle Warning Signs of Elder Neglect
An accusation of nursing home abuse and neglect is a serious issue that demands immediate attention. It’s more than your loved one having a bad day or getting into an occasional accident. Neglect isn’t a “one-off” type of incident.
It’s typically recurring, with the risk to a resident’s health growing each day that the neglect remains unchecked.
Any time you visit your loved one, you should look for these warning signs of neglect:
- Malnutrition or Dehydration: Does it appear as if your loved one has suddenly lost weight? Are they expressing pangs of hunger? Do they have dry skin? Are their lips chapped? These could be signs of malnutrition and dehydration that need to be addressed.
- Poor Hygiene: Nursing home residents should be dressed in clean clothes and properly groomed. If you notice an unkempt appearance, strong urine, or fecal odors, there may be a neglect issue.
- Neglected Health: Have your loved one’s medical needs gone untreated? Have they developed pressure ulcers or bedsores? Are they missing mobility aids like eyeglasses, walkers, or hearing aids?
- Physical Environment: You also need to note the surrounding environment, including the bathrooms and common areas. Be on the lookout for any unclean areas or other potentially hazardous living conditions.
- Medical Mismanagement: The reason for nursing home care is to provide residents with their prescribed medications. Do you know if your loved one is getting their medications? Are residents having ongoing trips to the ER?
- Withdrawal and Depression: If your loved one becomes uncommunicative or emotionally agitated, it could be a sign that a nursing home caregiver might be verbally abusing them.
- Unusual Personality Changes: Do you notice changes in behavior, such as excessive apologizing or confusion? Have they developed rocking or biting habits? Those could be indications of stress and anxiety.
Document Evidence of Abuse and Unsafe Facility Conditions
The moment you recognize a sign of abuse, you want to document what is going on.
You need to take photos and videos of any suspicious incident, especially if there are visible injuries.
You should also start to document what you see in a log of incident dates, times, and occurrences. You might also be in a relationship with the family members of other residents who have witnessed incidents of neglect and abuse. Those should be part of your documentation.
You’re also entitled to have copies of your loved one’s medical records and staff behavior notes. If the facility denies you access to those notes, you need to speak with an attorney immediately. They will be able to make a formal request that the facility must address.
Report Suspected Abuse to Pennsylvania Regulatory Agencies
When you suspect abuse is occurring, you need to make a report to the nursing home facility. You also need to make the same report to Pennsylvania regulatory agencies.
These are the agencies to contact:
PA Department of Health (Nursing Home Complaints): 1-800-254-5164
Online Form: You can file a complaint online at the PA Department of Health website.
Email: c-********@**.gov
Mail: Division of Nursing Care Facilities Director, PA Department of Health, 625 Forster St., Room 526, Harrisburg, PA 17120
PA Elder Abuse Hotline (Department of Aging): 1-800-490-8505 (24/7 hotline)
Older Adult Protective Services (Philadelphia Corp for Aging): 215-765-9040 (24/7)
Take Action with a Trusted Legal Advocate
When you suspect a nursing home of engaging in abuse or neglect, it’s vital to consult with an experienced attorney to protect your loved one’s legal rights and overall well-being.
If ongoing neglect creates unsafe conditions that put your loved one’s health at risk, you might need to consider immediate relocation to prevent further harm. A lawyer can guide you through that transition and ensure continuity of care while also documenting the reasons for the move.
That can be crucial for an eventual personal injury claim. If you believe your loved one has suffered from nursing home abuse or neglect, the legal team at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan is prepared to help you take decisive action.
We’re committed to protecting seniors and holding negligent facilities accountable.
We provide compassionate support for families and will guide them through every step of the legal process. Contact our firm today to discuss your concerns and learn how we can help safeguard your loved one’s future.