The Law Offices of Craig L. Manchik & Associates, P.C., in Chicago represents clients in a broad array of personal injury and wrongful death cases, from work-related injuries to medical malpractice. Attorneys at Craig L. Manchik & Associates, P.C., also help families and individuals seek justice for instances of abuse and neglect of elderly individuals under full-time care. Knowing the signs of elderly neglect is an important first step to protecting loved ones, and the following list reviews some common red flags.
1. Weight loss or malnutrition. Progressive or sudden weight loss without a medical cause may indicate that the individual’s caretakers are not providing adequate food and water. Weight loss due to neglect may also lead to malnutrition, as the person is not receiving the essential vitamins and minerals they would be getting from a healthy diet.
2. Unexplained injuries. Protecting their patients from harm and taking preventive measures is a key part of a caregiver’s job. Elderly individuals who require full-time care can easily sustain injury if consistently left without assistance and supervision. Regular unexplained injuries may indicate your loved one’s caregiver frequently leaves them alone.
3. Unclean living spaces. Elderly individuals under full-time care rely on their caregivers to perform a wide range of tasks, from doing laundry to cleaning their living spaces. An unsanitary living space may indicate elderly neglect, particularly if you often find bugs, dirt, or soiled clothes or bedding.
4. Appearance of bedsores. The appearance of bedsores can raise a number of questions. It could mean caregivers did not regularly reposition a bedridden individual, failed to notify a physician of a developing sore, or have not been properly looking after the patient’s personal hygiene.
5. Abnormal behavioral changes. Frequent neglect may result in abnormal changes in personality or behavior for elderly persons in a full-time care facility. The patient may become socially withdrawn or express a distrust of caregivers and nursing staff.
