Nursing home neglect and abuse in Orange County can result in personal injury liability under California law. What are some of the most important signs of nursing home neglect and abuse? You and your family should be concerned by:
Dehydration – the failure to provide consistent fluids such as water, coffee, tea and juices is one sign of nursing home neglect and abuse. Your loved one will show symptoms of dehydration such as dark urine or difficulty with urination, dry and dark sunken eyes which aren’t as moist as usual, headaches, mouth dryness and thickened saliva. Additional symptoms can include convulsions, low blood pressure, severe cramping, as well as rapid breathing and pulse.
Sedation / Overmedication – Sedation and over-medication is a common strategy which allows the staff of a nursing home or extended care facility to make less regular visits to your loved one’s room to check on and care for them. Monitor medications for the addition or increased dosages of anti-psychotics and sedatives. These medications may be a sign of nursing home neglect and abuse in Orange County.
Other signs of neglect or abuse can include bruising around the wrists, waist or ankles of your loved one. This could be a symptom of the use of restraints. Patients are often restrained in under-staffed facilities to keep them from getting out of bed to go to the rest room or ask for help. This neglect and abuse can force a patient to attempt to get out of bed unattended. This often leads to a fall resulting in serious injuries such as head trauma, a broken pelvis or hip and other broken bones.
If you are concerned about nursing home neglect and abuse in Orange County or a fall which has resulted in an injury we invite you to contact the Law Firm of Rivers Morrell or call us at (949)305-1400 for a free consultation. We invite you to review the recommendations of our clients and the legal industry and contact us with the confidence that we have the compassion, legal skill and resources to pursue justice for your loved one.
