KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR 4 SIGNS OF NEGLECT AND/OR ABUSE IN NURSING HOMES
While it’s not the only service we offer, many of our clients know us as one of the premier nursing home abuse and neglect law firms in Birmingham. It can be devastating to learn that a loved one you have entrusted to an Alabama nursing home has faced neglect or abuse at the hands of their staff. Abuse and neglect can be difficult to detect, but there are a few things you can look for as evidence of wrongdoing. BEDSORES Often forming on the feet, ankles, hips, or tailbone, bedsores are a clear indicator that nursing home staff are not moving residents as frequently as they should. If the resident does not have much mobility, staff should check residents on a regular basis for bedsores. URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS A UTI is a very common type of infection, and while nursing homes may argue that they are a normal risk for their elderly residents, UTIs are often the result of neglect or abuse. They can be caused by a failure of the
staff to maintain proper hygiene, a failure to encourage residents to move around, or the improper insertion of a catheter. SEPSIS OR HARMFUL INFECTIONS Sepsis occurs when nursing home staff fail to properly treat residents’ bedsores or other wounds or provide them with clean bedding. Extreme cases can lead residents to develop septic shock which can result in a potentially fatal drop in blood pressure. If you find out your loved one has developed sepsis, it could be because of a sustained pattern of negligence or abuse. MEDICATION ERRORS This category of neglect or abuse encompasses staff administering the wrong drug or the wrong dosage, as well as giving residents too many drugs that have harmful side effects when
combined. These instances usually result from a failure to check the resident’s medical history for allergies and health issues with certain drugs. Though potentially unpleasant to ponder, knowing what to look for when suspicion of neglect or abuse arises is key to building your case against an abusive nursing home. Before you file your suit, give Shuttlesworth Law Firm a call. Our experienced attorneys will help you fight for an outcome that you and your loved one deserve.
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FACTOID INTERESTING
If you had to guess which state grows record-setting fruits and vegetables, would you guess Alaska? Probably not. And yet, some of the state’s examples of massive produce include a 35-pound broccoli, a 65-pound cantaloupe, and a 138-pound cabbage. Ironically, it’s all because of the state’s northerly
location — the sun can stay out for as long as 20 hours a day during the summer. The longer the sun is out, the more time plants have to grow. Many of Alaska’s veggies have wound up in the Guinness Book of World Records.
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