Many injuries received by nursing home patients in Maryland are written off as the effects of dementia. The patients may be unable to care for themselves and thus prone to harm themselves in a variety of ways. In some cases, this is true. But it’s also true that nursing homes can use dementia to excuse negligence.
Negligence can lead to injuries and fatalities
The effects of nursing home abuse can often lead straight to tragedy. Your loved ones may require round-the-clock care and supervision. But all too often they are denied care due to neglect or oversight. When this occurs, some nursing homeowners may try to excuse negligence by citing dementia. If you know what to look for, you can call them on their deception.
If a patient is allowed to be left in an unsupervised setting near another patient that is prone to outbursts of violence, this is neglect. When the violent patient injures the other, they can write this off as “abuse” or “aggression” on their part. They can also cite that both suffer from dementia.
Signs of violence can be blamed on dementia
The consequences of nursing home neglect or abuse can sometimes be hard to spot. In some cases, a patient may suffer from such symptoms of neglect as malnourishment or dehydration. However, they may also suddenly come down with bruises, cuts, and other signs of violence. A nursing home may try to hide the fact that another patient attacked them.
The CDC has ruled that incidents of violence between nursing home patients do not fall under the heading of abuse. Patients who suffer from dementia and are therefore no longer responsible for their actions. Cases of this kind can lead to a strong claim of neglect or oversight.
