Boston Injury Lawyer Blog
According to the advocacy group the Alzheimer’s Association, figures from Medicaid and Medicare indicate that out of three older adults that die, one of them will have been suffering from dementia. While this type of mental illness may not necessarily be the actual cause of death, dementia can speed up a person’s decline by upping the risk for other illnesses and impeding cancer and heart disease care. Also according to the report, 61% of patients in their seventies suffering from dementia are expected to die before they turn eighty, while that figure is only at 30% for septuagenarians who don’t have Alzheimer’s.
Possible Signs of Dementia:
• Memory loss • Forgetfulness • Problems learning new skills • Diminished social skills • Personality change • Withdrawal • Violent behavior • Agitation • Communication problems • Reasoning difficulties • Coordination and motor function problems • Paranoia • Hallucinations • Agitation
At Altman & Altman, LLP, our Boston nursing home neglect and abuse lawyers represent patients and their families with Massachusetts personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against long-term care facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and private caregivers. Contact us today to request your free case evaluation.
Patients suffering from dementia often require a very specific kind of care. Their deteriorating mental health also makes them prime candidates for becoming a victim of Massachusetts nursing home abuse and neglect As their condition progresses, dementia patients may need help with their feeding, bathing, and personal hygiene. They also may be prone to wandering off unless they are properly supervised. Unfortunately, negligent nursing care can cause a resident’s health and well-being to deteriorate significantly.
Sometimes, because of their deteriorating health, patients suffering from dementia may not be able to report what has happened because they are no longer able to understand that they have been the victim of Boston nursing home abuse and neglect. That is why it is so important for loved ones to visit them regularly and look for any signs of possible abuse/neglect, including:
• Dehydration • Sudden weight loss • Bruising • Malnutrition • Bedsores • Restraint marks • Fall injuries • Oversedation • Broken bones • Sexually transmitted diseases • Fearfulness around certain people
Read the 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, Alz.org (PDF)
One in Three Older Adults Dies With Dementia, AARP.org
Dementia
More Blog Posts:
Johnson & Johnson Must Pay $8.3M Hip Defect Verdict to Retired Prison Guard, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, March 15, 2013
Teen Car Crash Deaths in Three States A Reminder to Young Boston Motorists to Drive with Caution, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, March 13, 2013
Clergy Sex Abuse Returns to the Spotlight with Pope Benedict’s Resignation and the Wait for His Successor, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, March 6, 2013
