Homestead Inadequate Physical Hygiene

When families make the difficult decision to place a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility, they expect that the facility will provide excellent care and attention to their loved one. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and nursing home abuse and neglect cases in Homestead occur every year. A common type of neglect that occurs in these settings is inadequate physical hygiene, which can involve not taking care of an elderly resident’s grooming and hygiene needs.

If you suspect that an elderly loved one has been the victim of neglect or inadequate physical hygiene in an assisted living facility or nursing home, contact Flaxman Law Group to review your situation. You may have a legal claim against the facility, and pursuing compensation and a claim in your situation may help you get financial resources that allow you to move your loved one to a safer facility and to provide them with quality care and medical attention should they need it.

There are many reasons why staff do not provide adequate physical hygiene for residents:

• Staff may be poorly trained and may be unsure how to care for a resident who resists care or is difficult to move
• Staff may not want to take care of some of the more difficult tasks of cleaning a patient
• Understaffing may mean that staff cut corners when it comes to taking care of physical hygiene
• Staff maybe cutting costs by reducing the number of showers and other options available to residents
• Understaffing may mean that there is not enough staff to correctly supervise patients who need help in order to shower and take care of themselves.

Unfortunately, it is often the case that victims do not come forward to report neglect and it is family or friends who may notice that something is wrong. There are many symptoms of poor physical hygiene in care settings:

• Odor
• Dental problems caused by poor dental hygiene
• Physical grime or dirt on the skin
• Lank, greasy hair
• Unbrushed or tangled hair
• Ill-fitting clothing or clothes that have not been cleaned
• Bed sores
• Head lice, bed bugs, and other infestations

If you see any of these symptoms, it is important to take action right away. Inadequate physical hygiene can be a health threat and not just an inconvenience. For elderly loved ones, poor physical hygiene can make them more vulnerable to dental decay, infection, and certain types of illnesses. Poor physical hygiene can also lead to skin irritation and bed sores, which can become infected and can cause fever as well as dangerous health conditions for someone who is already in poor physical shape.

There is no excuse for not providing adequate physical hygiene to patients and residents of an elder care facility or assisted living facility. These facilities have an obligation to provide quality care for the residents, and that includes taking care of patients’ hygiene. If a facility in Homestead has been negligent, it is important that families hold them accountable and seek compensation for their loved ones so that loved ones can enjoy their life with the dignity and care they deserve.

To find out more about how to protect a loved one or to arrange your free appointment, you can call Flaxman Law Group at any time at 866-352-9626 or use our web site to contact us. Flaxman Law Group is part of the Homestead community and understands local laws that could affect your case.