When you help your loved one move into a fully assisted living facility in Texas, it’s only natural to be concerned or worried about his or her safety and well-being. This might be especially true if your mother or father has special health needs, such as dementia or paralysis from a stroke. Nursing home negligence is something that should never happen. Sadly, however, many residents in Texas and beyond have suffered serious injuries because of this issue, some of which have been fatal.
You can’t be with your loved one around the clock. So, how can you tell if care providers are meeting his or her needs? More specifically, what types of symptoms should you look for that might suggest substandard care? There are several issues that should definitely raise a red flag in your mind.
Bed sores are not a natural occurrence
If your loved one is getting bed sores in a Texas nursing home, it definitely merits further investigation. Medical data shows that bed sores are preventable by repositioning a patient in his or her bed, every few hours. There are additional prevention steps, of which any licensed caregiver is aware.
Most nursing homes, if not all, have stringent rules regarding care provided to an immobile patient. If your mother or father needs to help to change positions in bed, then every staff member caring for him or her is supposed to be aware of that fact and should make sure that he or she is receiving quality care.
Malnutrition and dehydration are often signs of nursing neglect
Does your loved one often complain of hunger or thirst when you visit him or her in a nursing home? Has there been a noticeable weight loss since becoming a resident there? Sadly, a caregiver who is lax in his or her duties might deprive a patient of food or water so as to not have bed sheets to change or a patient to clean if a bathroom accident occurs.
Depriving a patient of food and water can also be a means of control or to threaten an abused patient. If you don’t think that your loved one is receiving proper care regarding hydration and diet, you can request an immediate meeting with staff administrators.
Is your loved one supposed to be under supervision at all times?
If your parent’s medical records and nursing instructions state that he or she is never to be out of bed without caregiver supervision, then there should never be an occasion where a fall takes place after he or she has been alone in a hallway or other location. Injuries from falls are one of the most common symptoms of nursing home negligence.
What should the next step be to address a nursing home negligence issue?
It is understandable that you would feel frustrated, worried and angry if you suspect that your loved one is a victim of nursing home negligence in a Texas facility. You can take comfort in knowing that there are laws against such behavior and ways that you can help protect your parent.
A first logical step to take is to conduct an inquiry regarding any issue that has raised your concerns. If you are not satisfied with the answers or explanations staff members or administrators provide, you can enlist outside support from law enforcement agencies, as well as legal advocates who can help you resolve the problem.