Nursing home neglect prevention
This week I met with several families who believe their loved ones were neglected or abused in a Tennessee Nursing Home. This week was not different from most. What is frustrating about my job is that by nature it tends to be reactive. By the time someone is sitting in my office their loved one has been injured or may have passed. My office does all we can to give people a voice and find justice but we can never undue the harm that has been done.
In an effort to help people detect neglect I would like to make a few suggestions. Visit the nursing home often. Get to know all of the employees you can on a personal level. Also, develop relationships with other residents and families. They can all watch out for each other. Communication with the facility is key.
Also, watch out for common signs of nursing home neglect. These signs may include the following:
# Untreated bed sores # Unexplained wounds, cuts, bruises, or welts # Bruises in a pattern that would suggest restraints # Extreme and sudden weight loss # Fleas, lice, dirt on resident or in the resident’s room # Fecal/urine odors # Poor personal hygiene or other unattended health problems
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
