When a nursing home fails to provide adequate care, residents can sustain physical and psychological damage. Understanding the signs of abuse and neglect can help prevent or stop it before your loved on suffers further injury.

While these signs can vary based on each specific case, a combination of the following red flags could mean a serious issue:

• Unexplained injuries – Whether it is a bruise or a broken bone, these injuries could be a clear indication of abuse and neglect occurring in the nursing home. They often occur when a nursing home resident is struck by a staff member or when the resident is walking somewhere unassisted and is allowed to fall.
• Weight loss – A combination of medication and aging can affect a person’s appetite. Negligent nursing facilities typically do not have the staff or the compassion to ensure their resident receive necessary nutrition and hydration.
• Bedsores – Also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers, they are caused by poor nutrition and prolonged pressure on the bodies of patients who lay unattended for long periods of time. Bedsores are often evidence of neglect and lack of proper care by nursing home staff.
• Poor hygiene – Many residents require help with getting dressed, brushing their teeth, and bathing. When a patient experiences neglect, they are left to do these things on their own. However, they are typically not capable of doing so.
• Unsanitary living conditions – Nursing homes are obligated to provide residents with clean and safe living conditions. Failure to do so could mean residents are being neglected.
• Psychological issues – Abuse and neglect can result in a variety of emotional problems for residents. They may become afraid of the nursing home staff and reluctant to discuss the issue they encounter, as well as become angry. In some cases, residents grow distant from family and friends, close themselves off and suffer from depression. Changes in emotions should be taken under serious consideration.

If your loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse in Connecticut, contact our Hartford personal injury attorney at Zayas Law Firm for a free case evaluation today.