Delirium is just one of the most recent issues plaguing nursing home residents. While it may be widely assumed that delirium and other issues developed by residents in a nursing home are simply a cause of old age and deteriorating health, this is not always the direct issue. Behind the curtains may lie a different set of causes, ones that must be addressed by a San Diego nursing home abuse attorney.
What We Know About Delirium
Delirium is a condition that primarily concerns behavior. It is defined by a range of features and characteristics such as an alteration in one’s consciousness, inattention, delusions/hallucinations, inattention, fluctuating course, and much more. These issues are far-reaching for victims as they can drastically deteriorate one’s quality of sleep, psychomotor function, and emotional state – all of which can have lasting negative impacts on one’s well-being and livelihood.
While experts know that this is a condition on the incline in nursing homes, there is a lot of speculation about the causes of delirium. Negative medical effects, infection, and surgery are all thought to increase someone’s risk of developing delirium. These are usually present in vulnerable patients and can have lasting effects for the rest of their lives.
As dementia and increasing age can also be attributing risk factors for someone to develop delirium, this condition often goes undiagnosed and unrecognized by medical professionals. This is especially problematic in places such as nursing homes where care staff have a wide range of vulnerable elders to take care of.
Why Human Error May Be to Blame for Deadly Consequences
There is a number of reasons why and how delirium can take hold of nursing home residents’ lives:
- Oversight by physicians and nursing home staff
- Failure to take proper preventative steps to avoid delirium onset
- Overworking of nursing home care staff
- Nursing home abuse and other acceleratory actions
- Healthcare facilities’ miss management
It is important to recognize, above all, the risks that delirium carries for residents. According to Osteopathic.org, delirium has been shown to be fatal to residents of nursing homes. It is speculated that delirium may cause a severe deterioration in brain functionality. Even though it may be a symptom of the same issues, delirium points to a 40% one-year mortality rate in those affected. Furthermore, a comprehensive study of the condition has shown that it impacts nearly 18% of long-term residents at elder care facilities.
Joel Bryant – Tackling Elder Abuse and Neglect Head-On
Delirium is clearly a dangerous condition that is not to be taken lightly. Unfortunately, mispractice, abuse, and other issues that are present in nursing homes have the potential to accelerate and increase the chance of delirium onset. This can prove fatal to loved ones whose care is placed in the hands of unknown strangers. Despite this, Joel Bryant is an experienced and dedicated San Diego nursing home abuse attorney who has been pushing for the rights of elderly nursing home residents day in and day out for years. To contact an award-winning attorney today, please call us as soon as possible at (619) 597-2577.