Suspicious Injuries

    PHOENIX, AZ, April 20, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Suspicious injuries occurring in a nursing home setting may indicate nursing home abuse or neglect. Reported nursing home abuse and neglect cases have reached epidemic proportions in the last several years and are expected to continue rising over the next few decades.

Injuries to Watch For

Abuse or neglect in the nursing home setting can lead to serious illness and even death. Watch for these suspicious injuries in your loved one:

- Bedsores
- Malnutrition / Dehydration
- Bruises and abrasions
- Infections and fevers
- Medication issues
- Frequent falls and broken bones
- Poor hygiene
- Unexplained genital infections (sign of sexual abuse)

In addition to physical injuries, emotional injuries may indicate of abuse or neglect:

- Withdrawal
- Disinterest in favorite activities
- Reduced alertness
- Unusual depression or agitation
- Unexplained fear or anxiety
- Sudden urgency to change financial documents or wills or make large bank withdrawals

It is imperative to closely monitor your loved one's well-being while a nursing home resident. Remain actively involved in your loved one's care. If possible, visit your loved one at unexpected times of the day or week to increase the opportunity for noticing suspicious injuries and unusual behavior. Trust your instincts and believe your loved one if they report abuse to you. It is estimated that at least 50% of all nursing home residents experience abuse or neglect during their stay in a nursing home. This trend must be stopped.

Why Suspicious Injuries Occur

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), nearly 3 million Americans currently reside in a nursing home or other long-term care facility. Multimillion dollar corporations own many nursing homes, meaning the care of your elderly loved one is big business, where profits trump health care.

In some cases, nursing homes are forced to trim costs to boost profits. This leads to inadequate training of staff members and a lack of adequate supervision, despite the fact that federal law requires nursing homes to provide adequate staffing to receive Medicaid and Medicare funding.

If you live in the Phoenix, Arizona area, please visit the website of nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys Cullan & Cullan M.D., J.D. today at www.stopnursinghomeabuse.org.

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