Philadelphia Top Injury Lawyer Blog

When we select a nursing or convalescent home for our parents or grandparents, we hope that they will be taken care of in a warm, loving environment. As it is, we often harbor feelings of guilt that we are unable to take care of our elders when they need us the most. We want to show our appreciation for the love and help they showered upon us as we grew up.

Imagine that after selecting a nursing home and paying the high fees associated with it, we discover that our elder is:

• Looking bruised


• Disoriented


• Nervous and Scared


• Emaciated

They might be suffering from any number of physical or mental ailments that might or might not be treatable, but they might also be suffering from abuse. It's very important to check that the staff at your chosen nursing home have been trained and certified as care givers.

However, it's not always possible to weed out disturbed individuals and this has often been the case even in some of the best facilities. There have been cases where families placed hidden cameras and caught care givers eating the meals designated for the nursing home resident, slapping them, using unnecessary pharmaceutical restraints, and many other forms of physical and emotional abuse. These forms of abuse can clearly cause the elderly much pain and stress, leading to complications like illness and even death.

As such you need to check up your parents/grandparents and make sure that they are being treated properly. If they exhibit any of the aforementioned signs, ask the staff if everything is OK. Perhaps bring them for a checkup at a physician not associated with the facility.

If you suspect that abuse is the cause, you should certainly be speaking with a lawyer who specializes in litigating nursing home abuse in Philadelphia to explore your options.

Few American families live near each other any more. Jobs and opportunities often spread family members from coast to coast. In another era an aged family member who became ill, disabled or unable to care for herself would move in with another family member in the neighborhood. Today's far-flung families simply don't make that a viable option for many Philadelphia families. Complicating matters may be the older person's desire to remain in Philadelphia. As people age, they find comfort in familiar places and old friends. For many aged adults and their families, Philadelphia nursing homes provide the most acceptable care option.

Nursing home patient advocates have found that Philadelphia nursing home patients who are visited regularly by family members receive the best nursing home care. Regular visits allow family members to monitor patient care issues, notice changes in care or behavior and advocate for their family member when necessary. While many family members do not live close enough to regularly visit their relatives in Philadelphia nursing homes, even the most far-flung families generally gather for the holidays. Holiday visits offer an excellent opportunity to check up on family members living in nursing homes and ensure that they are receiving quality care.

Behavioral changes, bruises, bed sores, broken bones, reports of falls, weight changes, confusion, complaints or fear of staff can be signs of serious nursing home abuse, patient advocates warn. Since some of these changes can also be a normal part of the aging process or signs of developing dementia or Alzheimer's disease, thorough investigation by a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer experienced in nursing home abuse may be necessary to determine whether nursing home abuse has occurred and the extent of possible abuse. For more detailed information on signs of Philadelphia nursing home abuse to watch for, click here.

Making the decision to place an elderly parent or incapacitated spouse in a nursing home is traumatic for both the patient and his family. Ideally, most people would prefer to remain in the comfort and familiar surroundings of their own home. Unfortunately, diminished physical abilities, broken bones or declining mental acuity may necessitate a level of care that can no longer be provided in the home. For most families, the only viable solution is a nursing home.

While many nursing homes have well-trained, dedicated staffs who provide excellent patient care, most are multi-billion dollar business run by huge corporations. Profitability and efficiency too often trump patient care. Overworked floor staffs may find it difficult to provide competent, caring patient care. A national shortage of health care workers can result in the hiring of poorly trained or poorly motivated nursing home personnel. The result can be patient neglect, abuse and tragedy.

Every year approximately 2.1 million older Americans are subjected to abuse or neglect. Reports indicate that 30% of nursing home facilities are cited for incidences of abuse by state agencies. Statistics may be far greater. Some studies indicate that for every reported incident of nursing home abuse, four to five incidents go unreported. Patients may be too intimidated to confide in their families, absent families may not be aware of abuse or neglect, and the 66% of nursing home residents who suffer from Alzheimer's disease, dementia or other mental impairment may be unable to communicate their fears.

Families should watch for signs of nursing home abuse, including bed or pressure sores, poor hygiene, sudden weight loss, multiple or repeated falls, bruises, signs of fear at the approach of nursing home staff. If a nursing home patient exhibits any of these signs, he may be a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect. Contact a nursing home lawyer immediately and speak to a malpractice attorney.