Are you planning on visiting your loved one’s nursing home on New Year’s Day? While the holiday season is the time for connection and making memories, it’s also the time when understaffing leads to preventable injuries for those living in Florida nursing homes. For those visiting family on New Year’s Day, this guide offers helpful tips on what red flags to look for that may indicate negligence and abuse.
Why Does Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse Increase During the Holiday Season?
Before we dive into the most common signs to look out for when visiting your loved one, it’s important to understand why negligence and abuse tends to spike this time of year. Just like other industries, nursing home staff want to spend time at home and with their loved ones, and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is one of the most popular times to request time off. Unfortunately, nursing homes and assisted living facilities rarely prepare for time taken off at the end of the year. This often leads to nursing homes operating on a skeleton crew where there is not enough staff to properly care for residents.
Generally speaking, most nursing homes should have one caregiver for every six to seven residents. During the holiday season, however, a single caregiver could be responsible for upwards of 30 residents, leaving more room for abuse and negligence. Knowing the common signs of negligence and abuse to look for can protect your loved one, not only on New Year’s Day but throughout the coming year.
Red Flags to Watch For
1. Check Your Loved One’s Physical Health
The most immediate indicators of neglect are often visible on the body. During your visit, take a close look at your loved one’s physical condition:
- Unexplained Weight Loss: Look for loose-fitting clothes that used to fit well, or sunken facial features, especially around the cheeks and under the eyes. Notice how the staff handles meals during your visit. Are they simply leaving a tray on the table and walking away, or are they helping residents with their food?
- The “Pinch” Test for Dehydration: Unfortunately, dehydration is a common occurrence in Florida nursing homes. One way to check for this is to perform what's known as the skin turgor test. To do this, gently pinch the skin on the back of your loved one’s hand. If the skin does not immediately snap back into place, it is a sign of dehydration.
- Unexplained Bruising or Welts: While some people bruise easily due to medication, look for consistent patterns. Bruises around the wrists, ankles, or neck are major red flags that physical restraints were used.
- Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers): If your loved one is bedridden, ask them if they have any sore spots. Bedsores are almost entirely preventable through regular turning and repositioning. If a facility is understaffed on New Year’s Day, your loved one may have been left in the same position for hours or even days.
2. Assess Personal Hygiene and Their Environment
A lack of staff is most visible in the cleanliness of the residents and the facility itself.
- Soiled Clothing or Bedding: One of the most common signs of neglect is a resident sitting in soiled clothes or adult diapers. This isn't just a matter of dignity; it is a serious health risk that leads to UTIs and skin infections.
- Poor Oral Hygiene: Check if your loved one’s teeth have been brushed or if their dentures are clean. Oral health is often the first thing neglected when a skeleton crew is rushing from room to room.
- Odors in the Facility: While nursing homes have a reputation for certain smells, the overwhelming scent of urine or feces in the hallways is a clear sign that the facility is understaffed and unable to keep up with basic sanitation and resident changes.
3. Observe Emotional and Behavioral Changes
Abuse isn't always physical; it can be psychological. Pay attention to how your loved one interacts with you and the staff on New Year's Day.
- Withdrawal or Fear: If your loved one seems unusually quiet, refuses to make eye contact with you or particular staff members, or flinches when a staff member enters the room, this is usually a strong indictor of abuse.
- Agitation or Confusion: While these can also be symptoms of dementia, sudden spikes in agitation can be a reaction to a change in routine, missed medications, or poor treatment by nursing home staff.
- The Staff Interaction Test: Watch how the staff speaks to other residents when they don't think you are looking. Are they short-tempered? Do they ignore call lights? A staff member who is frustrated by understaffing is more likely to lash out at vulnerable residents.
What to Do If You Suspect Negligence at Your Loved One's Nursing Home
If you visit your loved one this New Year's Day and find that the facility is failing to meet the basic standard of care, do not wait for the holiday rush to end. Negligence is a progressive issue that can lead to catastrophic injury or wrongful death.
- Document Everything: Use your phone to take photos of your loved one's injuries, any soiled bedding, and other unsanitary conditions.
- Speak to the Nursing Home Administrator: Request a meeting immediately. Even on New Year's Day, there should be a supervisor on duty you can speak with.
- File a Report: In Florida, you can report elder abuse or neglect to the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.
- Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer: Nursing home neglect is a violation of Florida law and an experienced personal injury lawyer can help.
Too Much At Stake To Wait; Call Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney, & Hobbs for a Free Consultation
Your loved ones spent their lives caring for you; now, they rely on you to be their voice. If you believe a Tallahassee-area nursing home or assisted living facility has neglected your family member during this holiday season, the legal team at Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney, & Hobbs is here to help.
With decades of experience fighting for the residents of Tallahassee and beyond, we understand the complexities of nursing home litigation. We know the tactics facilities use to hide understaffing, and we know how to hold them accountable.
Don’t let negligence become the new normal for your loved one in the New Year. Contact us today for a free consultation. There is simply too much at stake to stay silent.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.