Injuries

Elder abuse is often hidden behind closed doors. However, it can lead to a wide range of injuries.

They not only cause immediate pain and suffering but can also lead to long-term health complications, affecting the quality of life of the victims.

The silent nature of this harm often makes them go unnoticed until it’s too late. For that reason, you need to remain vigilant and become aware of the most common injuries that are tied to nursing home abuse.

Bedsores

Bedsores, or pressure ulcers, can develop on the skin and underlying tissue. These injuries are common in nursing homes, especially for patients who spend the majority of their time in a wheelchair or bed.

Bedsores can be very painful. In the most severe cases, they can become infected.

Since bedsores are prevalent in nursing homes, staff members must take extra measures to prevent these injuries. If they neglect a resident, they could develop these painful skin ulcers.

Broken or Fractured Bones

Falls and fractures in nursing homes are serious concerns. As a person ages, they are at an elevated risk for falls due to impaired balance. Broken bones and fractures in older adults are dangerous as their bodies may not heal properly, leaving them with limited mobility even after the fracture has healed.

Broken bones and fractures often signal a serious problem. When there is neglect or inadequate supervision from the caregiving staff, it can result in injuries to these residents. Any sign of unexplained fractures should be investigated as a possible indicator of nursing home abuse.

Infections

With a large, medically vulnerable population, infections and outbreaks in nursing homes can pose significant health risks to residents and staff members. Many residents suffer from weakened immune systems and are susceptible to various infections.

However, when there is a high incidence of infections in nursing homes, it often points to a larger issue: abuse and neglect. Residents can suffer from various medical issues, including:

• Skin infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Influenza
• Respiratory infections

If these issues aren’t treated, it can lead to serious complications and life-threatening problems.

The spread of infections in nursing homes can often be traced back to neglect or substandard care.

Poor hygiene practices, inadequate infection control measures, and neglect of residents’ basic needs can all contribute to the spread of infections.

Lacerations, Bruises, and Welts

Bruises and cuts commonly occur in residential care facilities. Sometimes, they can be a sign of physical abuse or neglect.

For example, with nursing home restraint injuries, staff members may use these devices as punishment or leave residents in them for an extended amount of time. As a result, those patients may suffer harm to their wrists and legs.

Welts are another type of distressing injury. If a resident has suffered physical abuse from punching or kicking, it can develop into welts on the skin.

Head and Spinal Injuries

Head injuries are caused by slips and falls. Often, this results from inadequate supervision, poor maintenance of facilities, or failure to provide necessary assistive devices to residents. These can lead to:

• Concussions
• Severe brain damage
• Death

After a fall, a resident can also suffer from back and spinal cord injuries. It can lead to several types of complications, such as respiratory issues, partial or total loss of feeling, and paralysis of arms and other body parts.

In nursing homes, a spinal injury can occur if the staff fails to provide adequate supervision, especially during activities that involve movement or transfer. It can also happen if the resident’s physical limitations are not properly considered or the necessary safety measures are not put into place.

Asphyxiation

Asphyxiation happens when patients do not receive enough airflow to breathe properly. Sometimes, these difficulties are caused by medical issues, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while others, they could be the direct result of staff neglect.

For example, asphyxiation can also occur due to bed rail injuries in nursing homes. Bed rails are used in these assisted living facilities to prevent residents from falling out of bed.

However, if not used properly, residents can get stuck between the mattress and the bedrail, leading to restricted airflow and subsequent asphyxiation. This situation is dangerous for residents with limited mobility or who cannot call for help.

Malnutrition

Dehydration and malnutrition are serious health issues in long-term care facilities, often as a result of neglect or inadequate care. These conditions are caused by a lack of proper food and fluids and can lead to unintentional weight loss and a weakened immune system.

Insufficient staffing, high staff turnover rates, and lack of care are reasons for those issues in nursing homes.

Mental Health Issues

These injuries often lead to a decline in the victim’s mental health, quality of life, and overall well-being. Isolation, humiliation, and other types of verbal and physical abuse can lead to:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The physical and emotional injuries resulting from such abuse are not only detrimental to the health and well-being of the elderly residents but also a violation of their rights and dignity. By spotting these concerns, we can get these individuals the help they need when reporting nursing home abuse.

We need to work together to make these residential facilities safe havens for our most vulnerable members of society so they can live in peace, comfort, and dignity.