Making the choice to send your loved one to a nursing home is not easy. In most cases, the choice to place a loved one in the care of a nursing facility is done after family members attempt to provide care on their own. When providing care becomes overwhelming, the difficult choice to send your loved one to a nursing home looms, and you expect that the nursing home will provide better care than you or other family members can. This is why it is so frustrating when your loved one is not obtaining the care and attention that he or she deserves.

 Signs of Neglect

Many families tend to miss key signs of neglect by failing to pay attention to the smaller details. Nursing home negligence can present itself in various ways, depending on the type of patient and his or her needs. One patient may only appear to have poor hygiene while others may exhibit weight loss, bed sores, and emotional issues. Bruising and broken bones can also be signs of nursing home neglect as both can indicate that patients have impaired mobility and are not being adequately monitored. The best thing you or your loved one can do if you suspect neglect is to act on the suspicion.

 What to do if You Suspect Negligence

If you have concerns that your loved one is being neglected, you should first try to speak with your loved one directly. This will help you determine if your suspicions are correct. If your loved one does not adequately communicate a response or has responses that do not quite add up, then follow up with your concerns to the nursing home management. If your concerns are not being adequately addressed, then you need to find alternative arrangements as the health and safety of your loved one is most important.

Wrongful Death

 When an accidental death occurs as a result of nursing home negligence, you may have a claim for wrongful death. A wrongful death suit is a civil lawsuit that is filed when the negligence of an individual or organization causes the death of another. In California, a wrongful death action may be brought by a surviving spouse, domestic partner, surviving child, or other individuals who would be entitled to property if no will exists. A wrongful death claim must be initiated within two years of the date the incident causing death occurred.