There are some instances in which the neglect in a nursing home may be considered a crime. Neglect can cause physical pain, mental anguish, unnecessary suffering, loneliness, and many other serious consequences. When hygiene is neglected, patients may suffer from both physical harm and emotional harm. They may become isolated socially or become bored and depressed from lack of mobility and activity. Patients may suffer from depression, fear, or anxiety from lack of good care. Neglect can also cause mental and emotional consequences. Neglect can lead to physical harm, such as worsening medical conditions, medication reactions, infections, and injuries. These may range in severity from a nutritional deficit to the death of the resident and everything in between. There are many ways in which patients can be neglected in a nursing home and also many potential consequences of that neglect. Not providing any additional therapy that improves well-being, such as physical therapy.Turning off or deactivating call lights.Failing to help patients when they ask for assistance.Not having enough staff to care for patients.Failing to provide security and safety, resulting in falls or other accidents that should have been prevented.Inadequate food, nutrition, or hydration.Failing to keep rooms and living areas clean and sanitary.Failing to change or clean a patient after incontinence.Not providing adequate hygiene care, such as bathing, toilet use, and changing clothes.Not monitoring a patientвЂ™s health conditions.Failing to provide adequate dental care.

Failing to provide adequate mental health care.Failing to provide adequate medical care.Some examples of nursing home neglect include: It doesnвЂ™t matter if the person responsible for care meant to neglect the patient or not the staff in the nursing home is responsible for knowing what care is needed and providing it. Any failure to provide reasonable, expected care for the well-being of a patient could be considered neglect. There are many ways in which neglect can occur in a nursing home. Caregivers may neglect patients out of incompetence, laziness, or maliciousness.ДЄccording to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, a federal law that includes nursing home reforms and protections for patients, defines nursing home neglect as, вЂњfailure to provide goods and services necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish, or mental illness.вЂќ This is a broad definition that may include a number of issues and incidents that take place, or fail to take place, in a nursing home. But, neglect may also be willful and intentional. The neglect may be unintentional or non-malicious, which is still often considered negligence or even criminal. As an inaction rather than an action, neglect involves not providing patients with the care they need. Neglect in a nursing home is often considered a kind of abuse, even though it is not an action.

Families of loved ones who were neglected can file lawsuits against the individuals and the facilities responsible for failing to provide expected care. Neglect can be criminal and it can cause serious consequences, even deaths. Neglect in a nursing home may include a number of failures from not providing adequate nutrition to actively ignoring patients who ask for assistance. Nursing homes have a responsibility and a duty to provide reasonable and adequate care, and when they fail in any area of that care it may be considered neglect. These are patients who cannot live independently and need the services of caregivers. Recreation programs keep residents active and engaged in art, music and other activities, while regular outings, holiday celebrations and other events foster social interaction and a sense of community.When families put their loved ones into nursing homes they expect that they will receive adequate care for physical, medical, social, and mental needs. Care plans are tailored to residentsвЂ™ individual medical and social needs and managed by interdisciplinary teams of physicians В nurses В social workers В physical, occupational and speech therapists and other professionals, who meet regularly with residents and those who care about them to review their quality of life goals, assess progress and adjust the plan as needed. ArchCareвЂ™s five residential care centers enhance the lives of the elderly and others who require round-the-clock care in a traditional nursing home setting.