Washington Elder Abuse Attorney - Helping Victims of Elder Abuse and Nursing Home Abuse

The population of Washington, like everywhere else, is growing older. As a result, the need for nursing home care and other services for the elderly are in increasing demand. The problem associated with this phenomenon is that facilities are becoming stretched thin and quality personnel are becoming harder and harder to find. As a result, the problems associated with elder abuse and nursing home abuse are growing in prevalence. Below is an overview of the issues of elder and nursing home abuse in Washington along with common claims and how you should proceed if you or someone you love has suffered in this regard.

Elder Abuse and Nursing Home Abuse - Common Problems

Below are some of the common problems that arise within the context of elder and nursing home abuse:

Bed Sores from Elder Abuse

Bed sores are also known as pressure sores and decubitus ulcers, and they are a common problem with people in nursing homes as well as an indication of elder abuse. Generally, bed sores arise when there is a long-term application of pressure to a particular part of the skin that is not alleviated in any way. The term 'bed sores' is common in this instance because in this setting, nursing home residents can be left in one position in a bed for days, sometimes weeks at a time. Ultimately, these decubitus ulcers develop and advance to the point where the affected tissue dies and a wound opens in that area.

Fall Down Injury in a Nursing Home

As people get older, their mobility tends to wane, which means that they must be more closely supervised at a certain point. This need is only intensified by the fact that as bodies tend to age, they become more vulnerable to such injuries as broken bones, damage to the brain and other serious problems that may not be an issue to younger people. When a resident of a nursing home falls down, it's quite possible that it could indicate another example of neglect, particularly if the person who has fallen and been injured is not discovered soon after a fall. Injuries that include broken hips and severe concussions are those that are most commonly associated with a fall down injury.

Dehydration due to Neglect

Although it may seem rare, dehydration is quite common in those who live in nursing homes. There are several reasons for this reality, and one of them is that as people age, they show a tendency to become dehydrated more often. As a result, such symptoms and results can come to the forefront, including:
  • Bed sores
  • Confusion
  • Pneumonia
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Death
Basically, nursing homes should place residents on a hydration program that includes assisted fluid intake to avoid this problem. If that does not occur, it could amount to neglect or worse.

Restraint Injuries - Elder Abuse

There are two common types of restraints used in nursing homes, and they include both physical and chemical restraints. These used to be commonly used, but the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 outlawed the use of restraints unless doing so would prevent a tangible risk to the resident. That does not mean, however, that they are not still used, and if they are, it could be a violation of the law.

Sepsis - Untreated Bed Sores

Sepsis is a serious infection that most often arises when bed sores are left untreated for too long. Once again, this is an obvious sign of neglect, and it can be deadly if it's allowed to progress. Sepsis can ultimately lead to organ failure and other serious problems.

Neglect in a Nursing Home

Neglect is not something that can simply be defined easily and tangibly. Basically, it's something that people recognize when they see it, and it constitutes a standard of care that most people would simply not find reasonable under the circumstances.

Seattle Washington Elder Abuse Lawyers

If you or someone you love has suffered from nursing home or elder abuse, you need to contact both the Aging and Disability Services Administration of Washington to report the situation and the elder/nursing home abuse lawyers at Phillips Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.
 



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