Suspicious Circumstances In A Nursing Home

The Manton Law Firm, LLC

Georgia Nursing Home Lawyer

Like the old saying goes, where there’s smoke there’s fire. This is often the case in the nursing home environment: there are certain red-flag warning signs to look for in helping you determine whether your loved one is in a “good” nursing home or not.

Things to watch out for include:

  • Missing personal items
  • Dirty clothing and evidence of poor hygiene maintenance (such as lying in soiled clothing or bedsheets)
  • Bladder incontinence when there were no previous problems prior to admission
  • Weight loss in a short period of time
  • Dehydration and/or Malnutrition
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Lack of organized activities for residents
  • Observations of staff being rude or inattentive to other residents’ needs (of course, they will never be rude or inattentive to your loved one while YOU are there!)
  • Poor sanitary conditions
  • Fall-related injuries, especially multiple falls
  • Development of Bedsores, Pressure Sores and/or Decubitus Ulcers
  • Not enough staff on duty to meet residents’ needs, especially on weekends.

Of course, none of these factors above guarantee that you have a potential lawsuit. Sometimes these situations can arise in a nursing home even with good, attentive care. However, if you are observing or have observed these warning signs at a nursing home then you should be especially alert to the possibility that sub-standard care is being provided to your loved one. You should make the facility’s nursing home administrator aware of these situations—do not be afraid to voice your concerns in a polite but firm manner! You should also contact your local Ombudsman to make him/her aware of what you’ve observed—if you do not have their particular name and number then ask the nursing home administrator or call (888)454-5826.

Hopefully you can recognize these warning signs ahead of time, and the nursing home will take the steps necessary to prevent serious injury and/or death to your loved one. However, it is far more common for these warning signs to remain hidden beneath the surface until it is too late. If you feel that your loved one has been seriously injured or died due to nursing home neglect or abuse then Schedule a free initial consultation to discuss how we may offer help you and your family find answers to the questions you may have.