Nursing Home Neglect FAQs

Injuries from falls are the most common in nursing homes. Slippery floors, poor lighting, or a lack of handrails can cause these.

Other common injuries include bed sores, medication errors, and infections.

The risk of falls increases with age. In the United States, between 20% and 30% of older adults who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries. These can be due to several factors:

Physical factors:

• Muscle weakness
• Impaired balance and walking
• Cognitive impairment
• Vision problems
• Decreased sensation, especially in the feet

Environmental factors:

• Slippery or uneven floors
• Loose or wrinkled carpets
• Insufficient lighting
• Objects or cords in hallways
• Unsafe stairs
• Bathrooms not adapted to mobility problems

Pharmacological factors:

• Using medications that affect balance, such as sedatives, antidepressants, and antihypertensive
• Combining several medications

Other factors:

• Moving to a new location or redesigning your home
• Chronic health problems

To prevent the rate of falls in nursing homes:

• Implement fall prevention strategies such as improving lighting and increasing staff assistance.
• Use assistive devices, such as walkers or dogs.
• Use orthotics to support joints.

In addition, it is highly recommended that residents exercise, use assistive devices, and use orthotics to help prevent falls in nursing homes.

Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, are injuries to the skin and tissue caused by prolonged pressure. They may present the following signs and stages:

Warning signs

• Changes in skin texture or color
• Swelling
• Oozing
• Areas of skin that feel warmer or cooler to the touch
• Irritation
• Redness, discoloration, or darkening of the skin

Stages

• Stage 1: Reddening of the skin that may feel firmer or softer than the surrounding area
• Stage 2: The skin breaks open, erodes, or forms an ulcer
• Stage 3: Spread through the skin to deeper tissues and fatty tissue
• Stage 4: Spread to muscle, tendon, or bone

If there are signs of infection, such as:

• A foul odor from the ulcer
• Pus draining from the ulcer
• Redness and tenderness around the ulcer
• The skin near the ulcer is warm and/or swollen
• Fever

Untreated pressure ulcers can lead to serious infections, sepsis, and even death – a clear example of what is considered neglect in a nursing home. They can also cause chronic pain, loss of mobility, and affect quality of life. If you notice these signs, it’s important to know who to report nursing home neglect to.

To prevent medication errors (another form of what is considered nursing home neglect), implement the following measures:

• Know your medications: Stay updated on pharmacology and review medication labels.
• Prepare medications correctly: Minimize distractions and avoid unnecessary compounding.
• Administer medications accurately: Apply the “five rights” (patient, medication, dose, route, time).
• Document administration: Record medication administration immediately.
• Reconcile medications: Keep a definitive list of prescribed and actual medications.
• Inform patients: Provide written information on drug treatment.
• Use medication organizers: Helpful for patients taking multiple medications daily.
• Utilize medical management records: This can reduce errors during prescribing.
• Implement electronic alarms: Help detect adverse medication events.
• Keep an up-to-date list: Include all medications, supplements, and allergies.

These steps can prevent errors that might lead you to need to know how to report abuse in a nursing home.

These are the warning signs that family members and caregivers should recognize:

Sudden changes in mood or behavior

• Unusual irritability
• Excessive sleepiness
• Confusion or disorientation

Worrying physical symptoms

• Tremors or involuntary movements
• Unexplained rashes
• Frequent falls or loss of balance

Alteration in basic functions

• Loss of appetite or excessive thirst
• Sudden urinary incontinence
• Persistent constipation or diarrhea

Signs in medication administration

• Inconsistent medication schedules
• Bottles with leftover/unaccounted-for pills
• Medications that seem different than usual

Remember, if you suspect problems, contact who investigates nursing home abuse in your area.

The most common infections in older adults are urinary tract infections. Other common infections are respiratory tract infections and skin infections.

Other types of infections that can occur in older adults include influenza, gastroenteritis, and COVID-19.

To reduce infections in nursing homes, hygiene, disinfection, vaccination, and organizational measures can be implemented.

Hygiene

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after using the bathroom.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs and tables.
• Avoid sharing personal items, such as towels, toothbrushes, or underwear.

Vaccination

• Vaccinate residents against influenza, tetanus, and pneumococcus.
• Ensure residents receive recommended vaccinations.

Disinfection

• Empty the trash frequently.
• Wash bed linens frequently, especially when other people are sick.
• Disinfect surfaces with a solution of one part bleach and ten parts water.

Organization

• Establish protocols for the use of antibiotics.
• Record infections
• Designate an infection consultant

Educate staff

• Have accessible protocols
• Involve the nursing home’s medical director
• Personal protective equipment
• Wear gloves, masks, and gowns when necessary, especially when caring for sick residents

In the event that a loved one is hurt in an Arizona nursing home, you should know what to do if you suspect nursing home neglect:

Obtain medical attention

Make sure your loved one gets medical attention right away.

Keep a record of everything

Take photos, collect data, and ask for incident reports and medical records.

Report the injury

You can notify about the injury to:

• Adult Protective Services (APS)
• The assisted living facility
• Arizona’s state website
• At (602) 364-2536 over the phone
• In-person on the fourth level of 150 North 18th Avenue, Phoenix

Consider filing a lawsuit

To seek recompense for your loved one, you can speak with a nursing home abuse attorney.

Support your loved one

Make sure your loved one’s rights are upheld and that they don’t experience any more abuse.

Tragically, when neglect is left unnoticed or carries on for too long, it can cause other health conditions that may lead to a wrongful death. Wrongful death is defined as something that could have been prevented, such as neglect, and is often the legal outcome of a nursing home neglect case.

Death within a nursing home setting that can be directly related to neglect can be caused by several factors, including:

• A slip or fall resulting in injuries or instant death
• Infection caused by something preventable, e.g., a wound or urine infection.
• Accidental medicine doses
• Being left for a long period after a fall or injury

While there are many natural causes of death within a nursing home, sadly, a high proportion are a direct result of neglect. Neglecting the most vulnerable members of society will always have much more severe consequences and, sadly, often ends with preventable death.

Key fact: About 30% of nursing home deaths involve preventable neglect. If you suspect wrongdoing, learn where to report nursing home neglect immediately.