Falls are among the most common and dangerous accidents in nursing homes. While these facilities exist to provide round-the-clock care and support for aging adults, many residents still face significant risks from seemingly simple mishaps, such as slipping in the bathroom or losing balance while walking.

Falling in a nursing home isn’t just a minor accident—it can lead to broken bones, long hospital stays, and, in some cases, even death. Sometimes, falling accidents could be an indicator for nursing home abuse or neglect.

The frequency of these accidents and their serious consequences make addressing them a high priority for both families and care providers.

The medical term for a bedsore is a decubitus ulcer. They are also referred to as pressure sores.

These injuries occur when the blood flow to a specific area of the body is cut off. Nursing home residents are especially vulnerable to bedsores.

The appearance of a bed sore could be considered a sign of negligence. It can also be a claim that is actionable. If you suspect that your loved one has developed bed sores while living as a nursing home resident, you should speak to a Jackson nursing home abuse lawyer at Pittman, Roberts & Welsh, PLLC.

We have helped many families achieve compensation for the injuries to their loved ones.

More importantly, we’ve helped hold the nursing home and staff accountable in an effort to prevent this type of neglect from happening again. However, before you proceed with your claim, it’s essential to understand how this can occur and who might be responsible.

When you make the difficult decision to place a loved one in a nursing home, you want to believe that the facility will provide attentive, compassionate, and professional care.

Unfortunately, not all nursing homes live up to this standard.

Poor care in nursing homes can take many forms. Many times, the aftermath of this abuse can be devastating for residents and their families.

What are examples of poor nursing care in a nursing home? Let’s look at a few scenarios that could mean your loved one is receiving substandard care in a facility.

There are around 202 licensed nursing homes in the country, and of that number, just four received a 5 out of 5 overall rating from a survey conducted by U.S. News and World Report. That doesn’t mean the other nursing homes aren’t worthy, but it is important to note that any nursing home could be the subject of a complaint. If your loved one has been the victim of any sort of abuse, you should know about the correct nursing home abuse reporting requirements.

Picking a nursing home for your elderly loved one might be one of your family’s most important decisions. After all, you’re putting your trust in that facility to provide around-the-clock care. Unfortunately, some of those nursing homes don’t live up to their promises of care. Mississippi Today ran a story last December that found only two out of the 200 nursing homes in our state failed to match the recommended staffing levels. That is just one resource that you should utilize when trying to find out if a nursing home has violations.

Many people worry about contracting an illness or infection. Worries tend to be highest the less control individuals have over others and their environments, such as in assisted living facilities. Recovering from health conditions can prove challenging for some people. This motivates our law firm, Pittman, Roberts & Welsh, PLLC, to address how often infections lead to sepsis in nursing homes and share what you need to know to minimize your susceptibility to it.

Abuse is when you treat someone with cruelty or violence, usually regularly or repeatedly. In a nursing home, this can present itself in a number of ways, from rude verbal interactions to stealing money from residents, physically attacking residents, preventing them from getting care, and more.

It’s believed that only one in 25 instances of nursing home abuse is actually reported; that’s a reporting rate of only 4%. The residents themselves may be afraid they’ll experience retaliation, they might be embarrassed or ashamed, or they might not be physically or mentally capable of reporting the abuse.

Nursing home abuse claims depend on strong evidence to prove that abuse occurred and caused the injuries a resident suffered. The evidence that can strengthen a nursing home abuse claim varies, and you’ll need the help of an experienced lawyer to identify the proof you need to move forward with your claim.

The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) has conducted studies showing that approximately one in ten older adults living in a community environment is a victim of abuse. And recent 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) reports indicate that one in six people aged 60 or older experienced abuse in the past year. Sadly, rates of abuse have only increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to WHO statistics. After learning how to recognize verbal abuse and its warning signs, reach out to a Jackson, MS nursing home abuse lawyer if you suspect that someone you know may have been the victim of verbal abuse.

When your loved one has dementia, you may entrust their care to the professionals in a nursing home. This way, they can be around experienced doctors, nurses, and other caring staff who know how to give your loved one the quality of life they deserve. It’s important to look for a nursing home that can provide your loved one with the care they need. In order to make sure the home is right for your loved one, you should know about the special care considerations needed for dementia patients in nursing homes.