Poor Hygiene in Florida Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, & Group Homes

When Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, & Group Homes Neglect Basic Hygiene

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When a loved one is placed in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home, it’s usually because they need assistance with activities of daily living, including personal hygiene. The level of required care may vary, but all facilities are responsible for making sure residents receive basic support with bathing, grooming, incontinence management, and oral care. When facilities neglect these responsibilities, residents suffer as poor hygiene practices lead to dire resident outcomes.

Common Consequences of Poor Hygiene

Here are just a few examples of how poor hygiene manifests in the nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home settings:

1. Infections and Diseases: Poor hygiene allows bacteria and viruses to spread unchecked. Dirty linens, unwashed hands, and contaminated surfaces create an environment where pathogens can thrive. Common outcomes include urinary tract infections (UTIs), skin infections, and respiratory illness. These are often preventable with standard hygiene practices.

2. Pressure Ulcers and Skin Conditions: Residents who are not regularly bathed and monitored for skin health are at a higher risk of developing bed sores, pressure ulcers, and other skin conditions. These issues can progress rapidly and, if left unaddressed, may lead to serious complications, including infections and tissue damage. In many cases, residents are also unable to speak up and protect themselves due to mental illnesses. This further compounds a facility’s failure to provide proper hygiene.

3. Incontinence-Related Injuries: Residents who are unable to use a bathroom on their own might either require assistance using a toilet or assistance changing soiled diapers. The failure to assist these residents in a timely manner constitutes poor hygiene practices. When residents are left to sit in their urine or feces, they are at an increased risk of suffering from infections, like urinary tract infections (UTIs) and wound-related infections where fecal matter can infect open bed sores. The consequences of failing to provide proper incontinence care can be dire.

4. Malnutrition & Dehydration: Neglecting basic hygiene needs often goes hand-in-hand with neglecting nutritional and hydration requirements. Residents may suffer from malnutrition and dehydration, leading to weakened immune systems, frailty, and increased susceptibility to illness. Therefore, if you suspect poor hygiene, pay attention to the signs and symptoms of malnutrition and/or dehydration.

5. Loss of Dignity & Self-Esteem: Maintaining personal hygiene is an fundamental to a resident's sense of dignity and self-identity. When residents are denied the right to proper hygiene care, it can lead to feelings of embarrassment, shame, and a diminished sense of self-worth.

6. Depression & Social Isolation: Poor hygiene can contribute to the development of depression and social isolation among residents. The shame associated with unmet hygiene needs may cause individuals to withdraw from social interactions, leading to a decline in mental well-being.

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Poor hygiene can also present itself through improper (or non-existent) nail care, foot care, and/or dental hygiene, along with the failure to engage in regular baths/showers.

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Causation is Key

For poor hygiene to evolve into an actionable legal matter, the resident must suffer some type of injury or consequence. In other words, while the failure to change a resident’s soiled diaper in a timely manner, in and of itself, might raise a red flag, you would not have a case against a facility unless that failure to change a diaper caused an injury, like an infection. If, on the one hand, that infection resolves with a basic antibiotic course of treatment, the chances of filing a successful lawsuit would decrease. If, on the other hand, the infection leads to further complications, including sepsis and/or death, the facility must be held accountable for the pain, suffering, and additional financial and emotional burdens it caused.

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Contact FIDJ for a Free Case Review

If you believe your loved one suffered from abuse or neglect at the hands of a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home contact the experienced attorneys at FIDJ for a FREE case review.

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*The information contained herein is not medical advice.