Nursing Home Abuse and Nursing Home Neglect Informational Resource
Nursing Home Injuries
To assist you with recognizing nursing home injuries, we have provided information for you to utilize when determining if your loved one has been harmed. The most common forms of nursing home injuries are as follows: bed injuries, pressure ulcers, falls and fractures, malnutrition and dehydration.
Bed Injuries - Some of the most common types of bed injuries include suffocation and strangulation. These bed injuries are generally caused by side rails that do not extend the full length of the bed, the use of half rails, which are only two-three feet in length, or mattresses that are loosely fitted causing gaps of space where a resident could become trapped.
Pressure Ulcers - Pressure Ulcers are also called bedsores or decubitus ulcers. Pressure ulcers can be very mild in condition (pink coloration on skin) or very serious in condition (wound that extends into bone). Common places to find pressure ulcers include the elbows, spine, tailbone, hips, or feet. Pressure ulcers are generally caused by the friction of bed sheets, casts, braces, prolonged exposure to cold substances, poor nutrition, weight loss, diabetes, poor hygiene, and dehydration.
Pressure ulcers may be an indication of the quality of care being provided by a nursing home. Pressure ulcers are not always avoidable, but with quick attention, the wounds will heal and not progress to a Stage IV situation (a massive, deep, open wound).
Falls and Fractures - One of the most common reasons that falls and fractures take place is simply the age of the resident; however other factors include: dizziness, dehydration, medications and the use of restraints, as well as medical conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, strokes, cardiovascular problems, and optical impairment.
Malnutrition/Dehydration - Malnutrition and Dehydration will generally lead to the increased risk of the rapid deterioration of a resident's health. Common consequences of malnutrition and dehydration include infections, confusion, muscle weakness, pressure ulcers, pneumonia and many other avoidable health problems. Malnutrition and dehydration are essentially the lack of essential vitamins, minerals, proteins and calories.
Malnutrition may be physically caused by, illness of the resident, food and drug interactions, depression, and oral disorders or problems associated with feeding themselves. Malnutrition can also be environmentally caused by, for instance; improper supervision of a resident's diet by staff that is uneducated as to the special needs of the resident.
Some of the most common signs of Dehydration are diarrhea, vomiting, fevers and urinary problems.
