Understanding Important Issues with Nursing Home Neglect in Oregon
Most people think of nursing home abuse and neglect as physical assaults. This includes punching, kicking, or burning residents. Sexual abuse and emotional abuse are also problems in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. However, our Oregon nursing home abuse lawyers know that nursing home neglect in Oregon is a very serious problem and can have catastrophic consequences. This type of elder abuse can result in serious personal injuries to an innocent person including the wrongful death.
Serious injuries are likely in nursing home neglect cases. This is because residents are dependent on healthcare providers for their care and treatment. Some residents may entirely rely on their caretakers for even their basic hygiene, bathing, and eating. Thus, when nursing home staff members neglect residents, it could quickly cause deterioration of the resident’s health. This includes both physical health and emotional, cognitive help.
Types of Nursing Home Neglect in Oregon
There are many different types of nursing home neglect which could cause in Portland, Bend, or anywhere else in Oregon. This type of elder abuse could be intentional or unintentional. Intentional neglect is where a caretaker purposely avoids or does not help a resident. This could be because a staff member does not like the resident or because the staff member does not want to do what the resident needs, such as diaper changes or feeding.
Unintentional neglect is where a caretaker forgets about caring for a resident. A common example is when a resident is left in a bathtub or left bed in the morning and no staff member remembers to go get the resident out. This could be a result of inadequate staffing and supervision, poor training or inexperienced labor, or due to over population of residents in a home.
Some of the most common examples of nursing home neglect include the following:
- Leaving a resident in a bathroom;
- Failing to change a resident’s diaper or failing to clean up a resident after bathroom uses;
- Neglecting a resident’s hygiene, including brushing his or her teeth;
- Failing to change a resident’s bed sheets which could become soiled and dirty;
- Not monitoring a resident’s food or water intake resulting in malnutrition or dehydration;
- Failing to provide a resident with the necessary medication needed;
- Not changing wound bandages; and
- Many other common causes.
Injuries from Nursing Home Neglect Due to Negligence
There are many possible injuries that could be caused to residents as a result of elder abuse and nursing home neglect in Oregon. All of these injuries are magnified by the fact that a resident of a nursing home is usually older and frailer. This means that residents may not heal as well or have an immune system strong enough to fight back infections or injuries. Some of the most common injuries in Oregon nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and rehabilitation centers include the following:
- Pressure sores, pressure ulcers, and bed sores;
- Infections;
- Sepsis;
- Amputations;
- Nerve injuries;
- Organ injuries;
- Wrongful death; and
- Other personal injuries.
Ask Our Oregon Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers How to Help Your Loved One
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect contact the Oregon Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take Nursing Home Abuse cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
