Albuquerque New Mexico Nursing Home Abuse Law Blog

Why summer heat can be a menace for seniors

On behalf of Harvey & Foote Law Firm posted in Nursing Home Neglect on Thursday, June 21, 2018.

While summer can be a great time to enjoy some fun in the sun, for senior citizens summer may be far from the happiest time of the year. Rising temperatures can pose serious health risks to New Mexico seniors, and although many people want their older loved ones to enjoy some sunlight, the truth is that great care must be taken with seniors and outdoor heat, particularly seniors who live in nursing homes.

The Centers for Disease Control describe why seniors are more susceptible to heat. In general, older people do not handle abrupt changes in temperature as well as younger people. Seniors in nursing homes may also suffer problems with heat because many of them will have chronic medical problems that alter their body’s ability to respond to heat. Also, the effects of prescription medication may change how a person perspires. Prescription drugs may also make it harder for a body to properly regulate its temperature.

Signs of elder financial exploitation

On behalf of Harvey & Foote Law Firm posted in nursing home abuse on Wednesday, June 13, 2018.

When it comes to financial exploitation, seniors are at particular risk. As people grow older, they lose more of their independence and become reliant on others for their daily needs and to handle their financial matters. Unfortunately, this opens the way for bad actors in New Mexico to work their way into a senior’s confidence and gain access to the senior’s money and assets. Relatives of a vulnerable senior should watch out for signs that something is amiss.

AARP warns people to be on the lookout when a senior citizen does not recall certain financial transactions. This can easily be dismissed as a lapse of memory that many seniors experience. However, if your loved one has generally been sharp about financial matters and is now suddenly unaware of certain financial activities, this could be a sign someone has been utilizing the senior’s finances without the senior’s knowledge.

What you need to know about assisted living negligence and abuse

On behalf of Harvey & Foote Law Firm on Saturday, June 9, 2018.

If your parent is in an assisted living facility, you trust that the staff members will give him or her proper care. You may love the idea of an assisted living home because of the freedom it gives your mom or dad. It is a good compromise between a nursing home and a retirement home.

Unfortunately, some seniors suffer injuries at these care facilities. Without proper supervision and medical treatments, your parent may experience neglect or even a life-threatening injury. Here are some legal complications that may arise if something happens to your parent in a senior care facility.

What should you look for in group homes for seniors?

On behalf of Harvey & Foote Law Firm posted in nursing home abuse on Thursday, June 7, 2018.

The increase in group homes for senior citizens has many people wondering if a group home is the right place to move an aged loved one. Group homes are a way for New Mexico seniors to live in a place where they can receive care while still retaining as much independence as they can handle. Any good group home, however, should possess key attributes so that seniors that live there receive quality care and can live in safety and security.

According to Chron.com, a group home should be calibrated to the needs of its residents. Some homes will only accept seniors that do not require constant care. These seniors are capable of moving about on their own, can administer their own medications and are not under continuous medical supervision. If your senior relative does need to be monitored or restricted, some group homes may not be right for your family member.

3 common anesthesia errors

On behalf of Harvey & Foote Law Firm posted in wrongful death on Wednesday, May 30, 2018.

Placing one of your parents or another loved one in a New Mexico nursing home or continuing care facility is difficult, and it can prove especially so if you have concerns about the care your loved one is receiving while there. Many older Americans need medical treatment and procedures that require the use of anesthesia, but administering anesthesia is a careful process that can lead to serious repercussions and even death if not done right. At the Harvey & Foote Law Firm, we recognize the devastating effects of anesthesia errors, and we have helped many families who lost a loved one because of them pursue recourse.

According to Elcam Medical, medical errors, which include anesthesia mistakes, result in the deaths of more than 250,000 Americans every year. Many of the anesthesia-related deaths result from similar errors and circumstances, so modifying procedures and changing safety protocols in these areas may help lower the number of annual associated deaths.

How dangerous is a kitchen to a senior?

On behalf of Harvey & Foote Law Firm posted in Nursing Home Neglect on Thursday, May 24, 2018.

Loved ones of seniors want to promote the independence of their aging relatives whenever possible, such as finding New Mexico retirement communities that encourage them to use a kitchen to cook their own food. But kitchens can pose serious risks to seniors, particularly those who suffer cognitive impairments. Anyone who has an elderly loved one in a retirement community or a nursing home should first examine their senior's ability to handle a cooking environment.

As Comfort Keepers points out, ordinary kitchen operations that are safe for healthy adults may become hazardous where seniors are involved. If an electric cord to a kitchen appliance like a toaster or a blender is damaged or frayed, a senior needs to recognize it, but many seniors suffer from poor eyesight and may miss such hazards. Bad sight can also harm seniors if they try to cook, as improper use of a stove can cause a fire.

What is wandering?

On behalf of Harvey & Foote Law Firm posted in Nursing Home Neglect on Tuesday, May 15, 2018.

Wandering is a serious issue that often is associated with dementia patients. If you have a loved one who has dementia and who lives in a nursing home in New Mexico, then it is worth understanding this condition. As noted by Managed Health Care, wandering can become a safety issue and if your loved one is not properly taken care of, it could become a case of neglect. It is not simply a matter of a person just walking around without a cause. Understanding what causes wandering is important for proper care.

This action is where a person walks around without a real aim. They may even go outside and not be completely aware of what he or she is doing. Often wandering is due to a need of some kind. The person may need to go to the bathroom or be hungry. It may also be due to a need for physical exercise or as a response to stimuli, such as seeing a hallway and being triggered to walk down it. It is essential that the nursing home staff pays proper attention to your loved one to provide for his or her needs and reduce the chances of wandering. This means checking on him or her often, keeping doors locked to prevent leaving the facility or simply being more available to him or her because of the tendency to wander.

How dangerous are infections in nursing homes?

On behalf of Harvey & Foote Law Firm posted in wrongful death on Wednesday, May 9, 2018.

Having to put a loved one in a nursing home in New Mexico is a stressful decision to make. It is difficult to know that you are placing this person you care about in the hands of people you do not know. It takes a lot of trust. Nursing homes can be dangerous places. Perhaps one of the most terrifying dangers is one you may not think about: infections.

According to EOS, infections are common in the nursing home environment. While many of them are minor and easily cleared up with medication, some can be deadly. It takes vigilance and a high quality of care to ensure infections are handled correctly so that they are cleared up and not spread among the home's population.

Protecting your loved one from nursing home neglect

On behalf of Harvey & Foote Law Firm on Monday, May 7, 2018.

When it comes to nursing home abuse in Albuquerque, one of the first things to run across your mind might be physical injuries. Though physical trauma is a strong and obvious type of abuse some seniors experience in their nursing homes and assisted living facilities, it is not the only kind abuse and neglect that goes on in those environments.

Some nursing homes and assisted living staff neglect their residents. They overlook their needs, leaving seniors more vulnerable to accidents, injuries and death. It is important for family members to know the several types of abuse and neglect their loved ones may encounter in their nursing homes and assisted living facilities, so they can take proper action to protect them from further neglect and abuse and prevent death.

Are changes in a loved one signs of abuse?

On behalf of Harvey & Foote Law Firm posted in nursing home abuse on Monday, April 30, 2018.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home in New Mexico, you may worry if you see changes in his or her demeanor or personality. This could be a sign of many things. It can signal abuse or neglect, but it may also be a sign of a medical condition or change in your loved one's mental health, according to U.S. News and World Report. Knowing what is going on is important to ensuring the safety and well-being of your loved one.

Older adults in nursing homes may go through certain situations that cause changes in how they act. This could be linked to someone abusing them or not giving them the care they need. At the same time, it could be a side effect of adjusting to their new home. It also could signal a medical condition, such as dementia. It is generally up to you to figure out what is happening because in any case, your loved one needs care to ensure he or she is healthy and happy.