When you put your trust in a nursing home or another elder care facility, you rightfully expect that the staff will care for your loved one responsibly and treat them with dignity and respect.
When staff, management, and owners betray your trust and fail to care for or protect your loved one, it is crucial to remove your loved one from the situation immediately. Once you know that they are safe, you have the right to demand answers and seek justice and compensation on your loved one’s behalf.
Take the first step in advocating for your loved one by being aware of the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect.
If you suspect nursing home abuse in Colorado or Wyoming, we can help.
Contact our nursing home attorneys in Denver or Cheyenne today for a free consultation about your case.
Recognize the Signs of Abuse and Neglect in a Wyoming or Colorado Nursing Home
The following are some crucial signs that your loved one may have been abused or neglected in an eldercare facility:
- Unexpected hospitalization – When the facility hospitalizes a resident for a sudden, unexplained injury, something may be wrong. If the nursing facility fails to give you clear answers for how your loved one sustained the injuries, its staff may be negligent or abusive.
- Bruising or fracturing – When you notice bruising or other apparent signs of physical trauma, it’s your job to investigate the cause. Rough handling and physical abuse could be to blame for continual signs of injury.
- Bedsores – If your loved one is bed-ridden, the nursing staff must move them to relieve the pressure on their body and prevent sores from forming. Failure to move your loved one frequently enough could result in bedsores and potentially lead to infection.
- Emotional volatility – Facing continual physical abuse, social isolation, and hostility can quickly alter your loved one’s emotional health. If a resident’s demeanor changes or they seem dull, hostile, avoidant, or display other abnormal behavior, this may be a reliable indicator of abuse.
- Withdrawal – Look for dramatic personality shifts like avoiding social situations or any kind of physical contact. When residents face abuse in nursing facilities, they may seem hesitant or fearful, even around trusted family members.
- Weight loss – Dramatic physical changes like sudden weight loss can indicate abuse or neglect. Weight loss may also point to depression, punishment from the staff, poor nutrition, and inattentive care.
The effects of neglect and abuse can completely transform your loved one’s physical, emotional, and mental health. You can take action to make sure that negligent or abusive nursing facilities compensate you and your loved ones for you and their injuries and face consequences for their actions.
What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect in Colorado or Wyoming?
- Ensure the resident’s safety – While each case is unique, no matter your situation, the resident’s safety is the first and most important consideration. If you believe that your loved one is in immediate danger, have them removed from the nursing facility promptly or call 911 if it is a life-threatening emergency.
- Communicate and document – Communicating with your loved one is critical when you suspect abuse. While they may withhold some information, giving them a chance to voice their concerns could provide you with valuable information about their day-to-day experience. Documentation is also critical. Write everything down, hold onto records, and take pictures of any bruising or other visible injuries.
- Speak with nursing facility administrators – Facilities set up procedures to address and resolve grievances. However, if you feel that the facility isn’t addressing your concerns, know your rights. While in a nursing facility’s care, some of your loved one’s rights include dignity and respect, safety, privacy, management of their own money, and timely information about their health.
- Explore your legal options – When the care facility denies wrongdoing or is otherwise uncooperative, you can file a complaint with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. At any point in the process, reach out to a qualified injury lawyer to discuss your options.
Suspect Nursing Home Abuse in CO or WY? Sean Olson Can Help
If a nursing home or another care facility in Colorado or Wyoming has failed to prevent or stop the abuse or neglect of your loved one, turn to an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer right away. The attorneys of the Olson Personal Injury Lawyers are prepared to take decisive action to help you put an end to this treatment.
Together, Sean Olson can help your loved one and any other residents who are being neglected or harmed. Call us today or reach out to us online for a 100% free and confidential consultation.