Nursing Home Abuse: Poor Hygiene

Improper hygiene of nursing home patients can be critical to an individual's health and well-being. Often, this negligence can occur in the form of a nursing home staff forgetting to change a resident's clothing or failing to assist a resident in bathing or showering. Due to the advanced age of patients that reside in nursing homes, residents often have weakened immune systems, leaving them prone to infections and other medical complications. In addition, their chances of getting sick increase as the result of poor hygiene, so it's vital that each and every nursing home caretaker performs their best for the sake of their patients.

When you're in the process of choosing a nursing home facility for your loved one, it's important to do your research; however, problems can arise at any time. Here are some signs to look for if you believe that your loved one might be suffering from poor hygiene at the hands of their caretakers:

  • Bed sores
  • Weight loss
  • Emotional problems
  • Sudden illnesses
  • Unclean environment

Often, the root of these problems begins with the nursing home facility itself. Workers at nursing homes with a higher staff-to-resident ratio have a much harder time maintaining the health and hygiene of their patients, resulting in more frequent reports of nursing home abuse. Other problems might link back to the amount of training that a care specialist has received prior to working with patients. Without adequate training or experience in nursing home aide, employees bring a greater risk of causing injury or illness to their patients as the result of the work that they do. The blame for this unfortunate circumstance is typically brought back to the facility, as its job is to provide adequately-trained employees to their patients.

No matter what nursing home you choose for your loved one, they deserve the highest quality of care in all aspects. If you suspect that a loved one is being neglected, please contact our lawyers. We'll work with you to investigate the negligence and help win compensation for injuries caused.