A report from the Human Rights Watch suggests that neglect and isolation caused serious injuries to many people living in nursing homes in recent years. The report claims that many residents did not receive the most basic needs to ensure a decent quality of life. Staffing shortages have been a longstanding issue that have only intensified in recent years. The quality of care diminished even more, exposing troubling trends. If you or a loved one has been abused or neglected at an Illinois nursing home, you have every right to try to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

Inappropriate Use of Psychotropic Medications

Psychotropic medications are used to treat mental disorders, including depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, some staff members inappropriately use the medications to subdue nursing home residents and keep them sleeping. The misuse of antipsychotic drugs and sedatives to control the behavior of nursing home residents is known as a chemical restraint. What is equally alarming is that this group found that these drugs are administered without obtaining consent from residents or their families. Side effects of the medication included confusion, lethargy, and sleepiness. In more serious cases, misuse of psychotropic medications can lead to death.

Malnourishment

There are cases of extreme weight loss examined in this report. Malnutrition is physically apparent when proper nutrition is not taking place. Healthy meals are vital for elderly people due to vitamin deficiencies and age-related conditions. Special diets are often necessary because of their age and depending on their health condition. The risks of malnutrition are great, as it leads to a variety of problems, including increased risk for falls and fractures. Malnourishment is often the result of inadequate staffing, and it could be a red flag for nursing home negligence. 

Illinois nursing homes are responsible for providing their patients with everyday care and support. From feeding and cleaning to comfortable rest and intellectual enrichment, patients are often completely dependent on the staff in residential care facilities to meet their needs. Sadly, nursing homes are often not as diligent about providing excellent staff as they should be, leading to neglect and even abuse. 

One of the first places nursing home neglect often appears is in residents’ dental care. Regular dental care requires daily attention to minute details. Symptoms of derelict dental care appear quickly, making it hard to fake quality dental care where there is none. Problems that start in the mouth rarely stay there; dental problems often snowball into further, more serious issues. Elderly people are at particular risk of contracting illness and disease through poor dental care. Here are some common oral health problems in nursing home residents without proper dental care. 

Common Health Problems From Poor Dental Care

There is a well-established link between oral health and other areas of physical health, and an unhealthy mouth is often correlated with an unhealthy body. This is because dirty teeth and gums are easy conduits for bacteria into the bloodstream. Poor dental care can cause major health problems, including: 

Everyone knows that the human body requires water. However, few realize just how quickly dehydration can occur. When a person’s body is already weakened due to age or illness, appropriate hydration is essential. Consequently, nursing home residents are at an especially high risk of dehydration-related consequences. Staff must be extra vigilant for signs of dehydration. If a resident is dehydrated, action must be taken immediately to prevent serious medical complications or death.

Symptoms of Dehydration in Nursing Homes

Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it consumes. Elderly individuals already have lower levels of hydration and many take medications that further lower the volume of water in their bodies. Nursing homes must carefully monitor the amount of water residents consume and look out for signs of dehydration such as:

• Infrequent urination

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Although it is common, diabetes is a very serious medical condition. Diabetes is especially dangerous in elderly people or those with co-occurring medical conditions. Individuals who experience cognitive decline from dementia and related illness are also at increased risk of severe diabetes complications. These individuals may not recognize the signs of dangerously high or low blood sugar or be able to express their concerns to others. This is why it is so important for nursing home staff to monitor diabetic residents and provide consistently high-quality medical care to these vulnerable individuals. Nursing home neglect can lead to severe diabetes-related injuries or death.

Residents with Diabetes Need to Be Closely Monitored

Diabetes affects blood glucose levels and is often managed using insulin shots. Because the consequences of poorly managed diabetes are so great for elderly and sick people, nursing homes must be vigilant. Staff should help diabetic residents maintain normal blood sugar levels and prevent hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Diabetes can differ greatly from one person to the next, so nursing homes should have a personalized plan for each diabetic resident. The staff should regularly monitor the resident’s blood sugars using a glucose meter. According to the Mayo Clinic, blood sugar levels should be tested multiple times a day, including between meals and before going to sleep.

Insulin injections can be used to regulate blood sugar. However, misuse of insulin is life-threatening. One elderly woman died after staff at a senior living center gave her four doses of insulin due to miscommunication between staff. The woman’s blood sugar was so low that it would not even register on the monitor. Her body could not survive the extremely low blood sugar and she passed away.

When we think of nursing home dangers, wandering and elopement, severe fall accidents, or other dramatic incidents may come to mind. However, in many cases, the most dangerous thing that a nursing home resident does each day occurs during mealtimes. Elderly individuals and those with disabilities may have difficulty chewing and swallowing food. While it may seem insignificant, something as simple as choking on a piece of food can be deadly for vulnerable nursing home residents. This is why it is so important for nursing home staff to carefully monitor residents during mealtimes and make any accommodations necessary to avoid choking.

If your loved one was injured or killed by a choking incident at a nursing home, read on to learn about your legal options.

Choking Hazards in Illinois Nursing Homes

Many nursing home residents are elderly. Many older individuals suffer from dry mouth which makes it harder to swallow food. Food can get stuck in the throat and block the airway. The problem is so common that choking is statistically the third-leading cause of unintentional injury death for people over the age of 65.  Candy, food, medications, and even water can be choking hazards for elderly people.