Warning Signs of Nursing Home Neglect: What Cleveland Families Need to Watch For

As a nursing home lawyer for over 20 years handling cases in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, I have seen, first hand, the devastating impact that neglect can have on vulnerable nursing home residents and their families.

Recognizing the early warning signs of nursing home neglect is crucial for protecting your loved ones and ensuring they receive the quality care they deserve. This guide will help Cleveland families identify potential problems before they escalate into serious injuries requiring the intervention of an experienced nursing home injury attorney.

Physical Warning Signs

Unexplained Injuries

If your loved one has an injury the staff at the nursing home should be able to tell you how they got it. If they have bruises or cuts the staff should be able to tell you how they suffered those injuries.

Nursing homes are required to give your loved one adequate supervision to prevent accidents. Bruises and cuts are often a sign that your loved one is falling.

The nursing home should call you after every fall. They should also tell you what the plan is to prevent future falls. Just because your loved one did not suffer a serious injury the last time they fell does not mean they will not suffer a serious injury the next time they fall. Bruises and cuts can even be a sign of abuse.

Tragically I have handled cases where the staff at various nursing homes physically assaulted one or more of the residents. If your loved one has any injury that the nursing home cannot explain you should seriously consider moving them to a better nursing home. Your loved one should not be suffering unexplained injuries at the nursing home. You should photograph your loved one’s injuries and make detailed notes about when you first noticed them.

Also - ask your loved one how they suffered the injury. Also - document everyone you speak with. Keep track of when you spoke with them, their name and title or position and what they told you.

Pressure Ulcers (Bedsores)

Bedsores develop when nursing home residents, who cannot turn and reposition themselves, are not turned and repositioned on a regular basis by the staff at the nursing home.

• When you visit your loved one, are they out of bed?
• Are they bathed and dressed?
• Do you find them in different locations or are they always in their room?
• Does the nursing home get them out of bed in the morning?
• Do they bathe them regularly?
• Is their room clean?
• Does the nursing home limit how long they are in a chair?
• Is there a cushion on their chair?
• When you visit with your loved one does the staff come in and check on them and turn and reposition them?

Bed sores are evaluated in stages - Stage I being the least severe and Stage IV being the most severe. The worse a bed sore gets the harder it is to heal. The nursing home is obligated to contact you any time your loved one experiences a significant change in condition. They should contact you if your loved one has any skin breakdown.

Ask them what their plan is to heal it. Many many bed sores are completely preventable with proper care. The nursing home where your loved one is a resident should have a plan to prevent your loved from suffering any skin breakdown. If your loved one does suffer skin break down they should have a plan to heal it and a date by which it should be healed.

Significant Weight Loss

Unexpected weight loss may indicate malnutrition. If your loved one’s tongue and mouth are dry this could be a sign of dehydration. The nursing home is obligated to make sure your loved receives adequate nutrition and hydration.

As an experienced nursing home injury lawyer one of the most tragic types of cases that I handle are cases involving dehydration. Unfortunately some residents die of dehydration as the result of being neglected in a nursing home. This can easily be prevented. But some nursing homes are so understaffed they cannot not even make sure that their residents are kept hydrated.

Poor Hygiene

The nursing home is required to make sure that your loved one is being bathed regularly, that their nails are maintained, that their hair is washed, that they have fresh clean clothes every day, and clean sheets. Soiled clothing, unwashed hair, or uncut nails can all be signs of understaffing.

If the nursing home does not have enough staff to address your loved one’s basic care needs, what else do they not have time to do? Is your loved one being turned and repositioned? Are they getting the help they need with meals? Are they being toileted regularly?

Medication Errors

The nursing home is required to make sure that your loved one receives all of the medications that they need, in the proper dose at the proper time. They are also required to monitor your loved to make sure their medications are effective. They are also required to monitor for side effects. We frequently handle cases where medication errors lead to falls and also to serious health complications.

Environmental and Facility Red Flags

Inadequate Staffing Levels

Nursing homes are required to have a sufficient number of properly trained staff to provide their residents with the care they need. When you visit your loved one - do you see staff? If you push the call button in your loved one’s room does someone respond promptly? When you visit does the staff check on your loved one? At The Dickson Firm we know all too well that understaffing leads to a whole series of problems in Cleveland nursing homes from falls to bed sores and multiple other serious problems.

Poor Facility Maintenance and Cleanliness

The nursing home where your loved one lives should be well maintained. It should be clean. Laundry should be done regularly. The garbage should be emptied daily. The grounds should be maintained. Did you know that some nursing homes have a popcorn machine in the lobby because the strong smell of fresh popcorn covers up the odor of urine and feces. If the nursing home where your loved one lives does not smell good, that can be a clear sign of problems at the nursing home.

Behavioral and Emotional Warning Signs

Sudden Behavioral Changes

If your loved one is suddenly withdrawn, agitated, afraid (especially around specific staff members), or depressed the nursing home should be able to tell you why and they should be able to tell you what their plan is. Sometimes moving your loved one into a nursing home can cause them to have an emotional reaction. But these symptoms can also be an indication that something is wrong. The nursing home should have an explanation for these changes and a plan to address them.

Social Isolation

If your loved one was previously social but now avoids activities or interaction with others, this could be a sign that something is wrong.

Taking Action When You Spot Warning Signs

If you notice any of these warning signs in your loved one's Cleveland nursing home, document your observations thoroughly and report your concerns to:

1. The nursing home's administrator.
2. The Director of Nursing.
3. Your loved one's physician.

And make sure you keep track of who you talked with and when you spoke with them.

Legal Protection for Cleveland Nursing Home Residents

I have represented Cleveland families for decades. I have successfully represented hundreds of residents who suffered preventable injuries due to neglect. Ohio law provides specific protections for nursing home residents, including rights to:

• Quality care.
• Adequate staffing.
• Freedom from neglect and abuse.
• Proper medical treatment.
• Dignity and respect.
• Adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
• Privacy.

When these rights are violated and result in harm, I can help families pursue justice through legal action against negligent facilities.

Vigilance and early intervention are crucial in preventing serious injuries in nursing homes. By recognizing these warning signs and taking prompt action, Cleveland families can protect their loved ones and ensure they receive the care and respect they deserve.

If someone you love has been neglected or abused in a nursing home, call us at 1 (800) OHIO LAW as we would be happy to talk with you and help you in any way that we can.

Free Case Review of Nursing Home Complaints for Cleveland, OH Residents

Here at The Dickson Firm, we've been devoted to the rights of nursing home residents and their families for over twenty five (25) years. We work very hard to hold nursing homes accountable when they provide a resident with substandard care that causes injury, particularly in cases involving falls and issues with bedsores and pressure sores. As indicated above, bedsores can be extremely harmful to nursing home residents. They can even be fatal.

If someone you love has been neglected or abused in a nursing home, please call us at The Dickson Firm at 1 (800) OHIO LAW. We would be happy to talk with you and help you in any way that we can. Please call when it is convenient for you – we accept calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Dickson Firm believes it is crucial to share news about nursing home injuries and deaths to raise awareness about the ongoing issues of neglect and abuse that occur in Ohio – in Cleveland, Akron, Toledo, Columbus, Dayton, Canton, Sandusky and every community across the state. The people who suffer injuries could be your spouse, your parent, your brother or sister. By reporting these incidents, we help families recognize potential risks, empower them with knowledge, and push for greater accountability in the industry. Ultimately, our goal is to advocate for safer conditions and ensure that vulnerable residents receive the care and dignity they deserve.

If someone you love has been neglected or abused in a nursing home, please call us at 1-800-OHIO LAW as it would be our pleasure to talk with you and help you in any way that we can. We represent victims and their families across Ohio. Contact nursing home and elder law attorney Blake Dickson today for a free and confidential case review.