Springfield Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

Types of Nursing Home Neglect

Victims of nursing home abuse and their families have the right to seek financial compensation through a Massachusetts Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit. While some signs of abuse—such as unexplained bruises or broken bones—are more apparent, mistreatment is not always easy to detect. Elderly or ill residents are especially vulnerable, as they may be too weak or cognitively impaired to recognize the abuse. Others may remain silent out of fear or intimidation.

Among the most common examples of nursing home abuse include:

• Untreated bedsores, pressure sores, decubitus ulcers
• Burns
• Falls and fractures
• Inadequate medical care
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Inadequate sanitation and hygiene
• Choking deaths
• Sepsis and death
• Unexplained serious permanent injuries resulting in surgery or death
• Intentional injuries and assaults

In many of these cases, residents experienced severe harm, putting them at immediate risk of serious injury or even wrongful death.

Because vulnerable residents may be unable to advocate for themselves, it often falls to their loved ones to closely monitor nursing home conditions, staffing, and the resident’s physical and mental well-being for any signs of mistreatment.

Recognizing Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

While Massachusetts requires nursing homes to be licensed and undergo regular inspections, many issues go unnoticed or unreported—often until a resident suffers serious harm or even death.

Neglect can take many forms, and even seemingly small oversights can have serious consequences. Failing to reposition a bedridden patient can lead to painful bedsores, which may result in severe infections or even death. Not following a doctor’s dietary guidelines can cause dangerous malnutrition or dehydration. Medication errors are also common and can be a serious form of negligence.

Abuse in nursing homes is a grave concern and can take many forms, including:

• Physical abuse by staff, such as kicking, slapping, pinching, pushing, shaking, or beating
• Violence from other residents, including physical assaults
• Unnecessary or excessive physical restraints
• Chemical restraints, such as sedating a patient without medical necessity
• Excessive force or threats of harm
• Verbal abuse, humiliation, or ridicule
• Sexual assault or battery, including rape

As disturbing as these realities are, the warning signs are not always immediately apparent. Families are often shocked to learn the suffering their loved ones have endured at the hands of those entrusted with their care.

In many instances, families discover that nursing home employees were inadequately trained or hired without proper background checks.

While staff members are legally obligated to report suspected abuse or neglect, they often fail to do so—prioritizing the facility’s reputation over the well-being of the residents.

If you suspect your loved one is experiencing abuse or neglect, pay close attention to the following warning signs:

• Dehydration or malnutrition
• Pressure ulcers (also known as bed sores)
• Emotional agitation or upset, becoming withdrawn
• Instances of wandering or elopement
• Infections
• Falls, fractures or head injuries
• Unsanitary conditions
• Unexplained injuries, including wounds, cuts, bruises or welts
• Unexplained death of a resident
• Rapid weight loss or weight gain
• Unusual changes in resident behavior
• Injuries that require emergency medical care or hospitalization
• Frequent illnesses
• Heavy medication

Issues with For-Profit Nursing Home Facilities

While abuse and neglect can occur in any nursing home, for-profit facilities have been found to have particularly high rates of incidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these facilities now make up nearly two-thirds of the nursing home industry.

One of the most alarming issues in for-profit nursing homes is health care fraud. Many of these facilities have been caught overcharging Medicare for treatments that are either unnecessary or never provided.

A report from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' inspector general’s office found that 30% of claims billed by for-profit nursing homes were improper—more than double the 12% rate at non-profit facilities. This fraudulent billing costs taxpayers an estimated $1.5 billion each year for care that is either unneeded or not received at all.

This practice directly harms residents. Some patients undergo unnecessary treatments that may be dangerous, while others are deprived of essential care that Medicare has already paid for. Unfortunately, this pattern is becoming more common, with for-profit nursing homes being the biggest offenders.