Neglect in Nursing Homes in Missouri & Kansas
A nursing home patient does not need to be physically or verbally abused to be the victim of abuse. Nursing home neglect is a form of abuse that can have many of the same severe consequences. Ignoring patients and failing to care for patients can result in emotional, mental, and physical conditions that can result in injury or even death. The pain and suffering caused by nursing home neglect can be traumatic for a patient, and the loss of a loved one due to nursing home neglect can be devastating for a family.
Nursing home patients throughout Missouri and Kansas deserve to live in a safe environment with necessary and proper medical care. If you suspect a loved one is being neglected in Kansas City or elsewhere, please read below to learn more about what you should do. If you still have questions, call our Kansas City nursing home neglect attorney for free information about you and your loved one's legal rights: 816-203-0143.
Types of Nursing Home Neglect
- Malnutrition or Dehydration
- Bed Sores or Pressure Ulcers
- Failing to Bathe or Change Patients
- Failure to Provide Basic Personal Hygiene
- Failing to Provide a Safe Environment
- Lack of Adequate Supervision
- Failing to Provide Adequate Medical Care and Treatment
- Emotional and Social Neglect
Neglect in a nursing home can take many forms. In most cases, neglect involves ignoring a patient’s needs, including basic needs such as personal hygiene, medical care, and providing a safe environment.
Staff members do not supervise patients adequately and may leave patients alone for an entire day or night without checking on patients. The nursing home administrators fail to supervise staff members to ensure that they are providing adequate care for patients. Therefore, the problem of neglect can exist on all levels in a long-term care facility.
The results of neglect in nursing homes can be catastrophic. Patients who are neglected have a higher risk of developing severe health conditions, including life-threatening conditions. They have a higher risk of being injured or developing emotional disorders.
Warning Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Many of the warning signs of nursing home neglect are similar to some of the signs of nursing home abuse. Common signs that a nursing home patient may be neglected include, but are not limited to:
- Having a bad odor because of a lack of personal hygiene
- Dehydration and malnutrition
- Bedsores or pressure ulcers from lack of movement
- Sudden weight loss because the patient cannot feed himself or will not feed himself without supervision
- Withdrawn or anxious
- Abnormal changes in behavior
- Unexplained injuries and infections
- Being left alone in soiled bed linens or diapers
- Unsanitary or unsafe living conditions
- Constantly ringing telephones and lack of sufficient staff members
- Development of incontinence because of lack of help with toileting
- Patients who sleep more than normal or seem confused because of the use of medication to keep them docile and quiet
If you notice any changes in your loved one’s appearance, health, or personality, it is a sign that you need to ask questions. If staff members are unable or unwilling to provide satisfactory answers to your questions, it is time to take the next step — file a complaint and consult a Kansas City nursing home neglect attorney.
How to Report Nursing Home Neglect in Missouri & Kansas
If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, you should report it. You can start by filing a complaint regarding a long-term care facility in Kansas and Missouri. In Kansas, by contacting the Kansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. In Missouri, you can file complaints against nursing homes by contacting the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
If a resident is in immediate danger, you can call your local law enforcement agency or social services department. You can also contact a Kansas City nursing home neglect lawyer for help. An attorney understands the process of holding nursing homes responsible for abuse and neglect. An attorney can provide you with additional information, support, and guidance as you work to ensure your loved one’s safety and hold the nursing home responsible for its negligence and wrongdoing.
As you work to resolve the issues, keep detailed notes of who you talk to and what is said during each conversation. If you report the problem to a nursing home administrator, make a note of the date, time, and person’s name. If you file a complaint with a government agency, keep a copy of the complaint about your records. All information will be helpful to your attorney as he begins a comprehensive investigation into the nursing home neglect.
Having a nursing home neglect attorney to handle the legal matters gives you the time you need to secure a safe environment for your loved one and take care of your loved one’s physical and emotional health.
Contact a Kansas City Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer for More Information
The Law Office of Kevin J. McManus handles nursing home negligence cases in Missouri and Kansas. If you suspect that your loved one might be the victim of elder neglect, contact our office to learn more about how we can help investigate the matter and pursue legal action against the nursing home.
Call 816-203-0143 for a free consultation with a Kansas City nursing home abuse attorney in your area.
Related Links: Malnutrition & Dehydration in Kansas City Nursing Homes When Is a Nursing Home at Fault for a Death in Missouri? Are Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawsuits Settled Out Of Court? |