While emotional and physical abuse may lead to more nursing home abuse reports and lawsuits, neglect is likely the most common form of mistreatment in Baltimore nursing homes. Many family members do not recognize neglect as a type of nursing home abuse, and it is sometimes seen as a normal part of living in a long-term care facility. However, neglect is a serious type of abuse that should not be ignored.
If you believe your aging loved one is a victim of neglect or another type of mistreatment in their Baltimore nursing home, consider working with a Baltimore nursing home abuse lawyer today. You can discuss your case with a knowledgeable legal professional to learn more about your options.
What Is Neglect and How Does It Occur in Baltimore Nursing Homes?
Nursing home neglect occurs when caregivers—nursing home administrators or staff—fail to uphold their caretaking duties. Nursing home residents generally cannot provide their own care and support for activities of daily living and rely on the nursing home staff to meet their needs.
While this is difficult to track, neglect probably occurs much more often than other forms of elder abuse in long-term care settings.
Types of Neglect in Baltimore Nursing Homes
In general, residents of nursing homes can experience neglect in a few different ways, including:
- Physical Neglect: Residents receive inadequate nutrition, may suffer from dehydration, and/or have poor hygiene because nursing home staff do not provide the routine care and support necessary.
- Medical Neglect: Medical neglect occurs when residents miss treatments or therapies, have their health needs ignored, and experience complications related to medication errors or missed doses.
- Emotional Neglect: Emotional neglect occurs when a resident is isolated, lacks social interaction, and is not given the opportunity to participate in any activities despite being capable of doing so.
What Are the Care Standards for Nursing Homes?
Residents and their families expect nursing homes to provide the highest practicable level of care based on a patient’s needs. This includes supporting their physical, mental, and emotional health. Maryland has a Bill of Rights for Nursing Home Residents that provides basic protections for residents and sets the expectations of care from their nursing home facilities.
In short, residents should expect the staff and caregivers in their Baltimore nursing home to:
- Provide adequate hygienic care, including support for toileting and bathing
- Administer the necessary medications as prescribed
- Help residents with mobility concerns to move around the facility
- Provide any necessary medical care or call for an ambulance when needed
- Provide supervision for patients with physical or cognitive impairments
Federal and state regulations also apply to nursing homes in Maryland. If the facility violated these regulations, you may have a valid nursing home neglect case.
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Is Nursing Home Neglect Always Intentional?
Nursing home abuse is always intentional. The abuser purposefully causes physical or psychological harm to the resident. Neglect is different. It is not always intentional. Staff might fail to provide adequate care because of improper training, understaffing, overcrowding, poor communication, and many other reasons.
Some of the most common causes of unintentional neglect in nursing homes are:
- Staffing shortages
- High turnover
- Inadequate staff training
- Failure to hire qualified staff
- Inadequate staff supervision
While the staff members may not intentionally neglect residents, the administration should recognize a systemic issue within the facility and act quickly to prevent issues. The facility administrators can address the causes of neglect, including:
- Hiring well-qualified staff
- Focusing on staff retention
- Properly training staff
- Supervising staff
- Listening to concerns from residents and families
Why Is Nursing Home Neglect So Dangerous?
Nursing home neglect can have immediate and long-term effects on residents, including physical injuries and emotional distress.
Some of the most common medical concerns linked to nursing home neglect include bedsores and pressure ulcers, malnutrition, dehydration, and preventable infections. Any of these concerns could be deadly for an aging senior if left untreated.
Psychologically, nursing home residents can experience isolation, lack of support, and poor hygiene. This could lead to depression, anxiety, and other health problems.
How Does Nursing Home Neglect Affect Loved Ones?
Neglect causes a serious erosion of trust in the facility and its leadership for family members. They experience emotional distress and extreme worry. The family might also face additional medical care costs.
The Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) conducts annual surveys of residents and their families. In one recent year, these surveys showed a significant number of the following neglect-related concerns:
- Facility Understaffed: 18 percent
- Injury or Medical Neglect: 14 percent
- Nursing Home is Dirty, Needs Repairs, or Smells: 12 percent
- Resident Receives Poor Care: 11 percent
- Staff Ignores Needs and Requests: 11 percent
- Resident is Unkempt or Dirty: 9 percent
- Untrained Staff: 4 percent
- Resident/Facility is Unsafe: 3 percent
These surveys show immense concern about residents in Maryland’s nursing homes. Four percent of respondents believed their loved one received poor care in their long-term care facility.
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What Should I Do If I Expect Neglect or Abuse in My Loved One’s Baltimore Nursing Home?
If you believe your loved one is experiencing neglect or abuse in their Baltimore nursing home, act now. Document any poor hygiene, unexplained injuries, weight loss, and other signs of abuse or neglect.
You have several options for taking action to protect your loved one. These include:
- Reporting your concerns to the nursing home management
- Filing a complaint with the Maryland Department of Health
- Hiring a Baltimore nursing home abuse attorney
The best way to learn more about your rights and options is to discuss the possibility of pursuing legal action for financial compensation and justice with a Baltimore personal injury lawyer who handles these cases. They can guide your next steps and point you toward resources and support for families dealing with substandard nursing home care.
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Discuss Your Loved One’s Baltimore Nursing Home Mistreatment With Our Legal Team
Our personal injury law firm represents nursing home residents and their families after abuse or neglect in Baltimore long-term care facilities. We will assess your loved one’s rights and provide reassurance that legal options are available to get justice. Contact Jenner Law today for your free consultation with our team.
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