Families want nothing more than to place their loved ones in a safe, caring environment as they lose the ability to care for themselves. Choosing a nursing home or assisted living facility for a parent, spouse, or grandparent is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. You’re trusting that the people right here in your hometown of New Orleans are caring for your loved one with compassion and respect every day.
But what happens when that trust is broken? When facilities fail to provide proper supervision, adequate staffing, or safe conditions, residents can suffer serious injuries and emotional trauma. When incidents of neglect, unsafe practices, or even intentional abuse occur, no family should have to face the consequences alone.
At Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers, we understand how devastating nursing home injuries can be for the entire family and their loved one. That’s why our New Orleans nursing home injury lawyers are dedicated to helping families hold negligent facilities accountable.
If your loved one was injured because of nursing home abuse or neglect, our team is ready to aggressively pursue compensation on your family’s behalf. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Understanding Nursing Home Injuries in Louisiana
There are many ways nursing home injuries can happen, from physical harm to emotional or medical problems. Sadly, these injuries are often preventable and stem from neglect or abuse. These injuries can occur in larger facilities in Mid-City, smaller assisted living homes in Uptown, or long-term care centers across Louisiana.
What’s tricky about noticing neglect specifically is that sometimes neglect isn’t obvious. It could manifest as missed meals or skipped medication. Other times, neglect is visible and impossible to miss, like a fall, an untreated infection, or bedsores. Either way, families need to stay alert and speak up to ensure their loved ones are safe and properly cared for.
Common Nursing Home Injuries in New Orleans Facilities
The following injuries are frequently caused by negligence, understaffing, or unsafe practices in local nursing homes.
Falls and Fractures
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury in nursing homes. Older residents are at increased risk of falls from impaired mobility, age-related frailty, or medication side effects. In New Orleans, wet floors in humid facilities, cluttered hallways, or inadequate supervision can lead to serious accidents.
Falls can result in:
- Hip fractures, wrist fractures, and broken bones
- Head trauma or concussions
- Loss of mobility and independence
- Extended hospital stays and rehabilitation
Even one seemingly minor fall can trigger many health complications, especially for residents with pre-existing conditions.
Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers
Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, develop when residents are left in one position for too long without proper care. These horrifically painful, preventable injuries are clear signs that your loved one is being neglected.
Severe bedsores can quickly become life-altering and even deadly, as they lead to:
- Sepsis
- Gangrene
- Permanent skin and tissue damage
- Long-term hospitalization
- Even death
Infections and Sepsis
Residents with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable to infections. Nursing homes that fail to maintain clean environments, monitor and clean wounds, or provide timely medical treatment put residents at risk.
Common injuries and illnesses include:
- Urinary tract infections
- Respiratory infections
- Untreated wounds or surgical sites
- Sepsis from neglected infections
Poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene practices can turn minor infections into serious medical emergencies.
Malnutrition and Dehydration
Neglect may not always leave visible marks. Many residents in New Orleans nursing homes suffer from malnutrition or dehydration due to inadequate meals, poor monitoring, or failure to follow care plans.
Signs include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Weakness and fatigue
- Confusion or cognitive decline
- Dry skin or cracked lips
Malnutrition and dehydration can lead to organ failure, increased fall risk, and loss of life.
Medication Errors
Medication errors are a common cause of injury in nursing homes. Errors can result from overworked, inexperienced staff or poor documentation.
These mistakes can include:
- Wrong dosage or medication
- Skipped or delayed doses
- Drug interactions and side effects
- Giving medication to the wrong resident
In some cases, sedatives are misused to manage residents rather than treat medical conditions, causing dangerous side effects and increasing fall risk. If you suspect the staff at your loved one’s nursing home is drugging them, don’t hesitate to report it.
Emotional and Psychological Harm
Abuse in nursing homes isn’t always physical. Emotional abuse, such as verbal harassment, humiliation, isolation, or threats, can have severe emotional and psychological consequences.
Effects on residents may include:
- Depression or anxiety
- Withdrawal from social activities
- Refusal to eat or take medications
- Feelings of shame and hopelessness
- Accelerated physical and cognitive decline
Families often notice changes in mood or behavior before seeing physical injuries. This makes early intervention critical. You know your family member better than anyone, so trust your gut feeling when something feels off.
Resident-on-Resident Injuries
Aggression between residents is a growing concern, especially in understaffed facilities. When staff fail to supervise properly, conflicts can escalate, leading to serious injuries.
Common causes include:
- Insufficient monitoring during high-risk periods
- Ignored behavioral issues or past altercations
- Mixing residents with incompatible cognitive or physical abilities
Facilities are responsible for preventing these incidents through proper staffing, training, and security measures. It’s part of their duty of care to protect residents from abuse and bullying.
Unsafe Transfers and Lifting Injuries
Improper lifting techniques, lack of equipment, or insufficient staff can cause injuries during transfers between beds, chairs, and wheelchairs.
Consequences include:
- Head injuries
- Back and shoulder injuries
- Fractures from falls during transfer
- Aggravation of existing conditions
- Increased dependency and long-term care needs
Sexual Assault in Nursing Homes
Sexual assault is one of the most serious and devastating forms of abuse a resident can experience. It is a heinous violation of trust and has profound emotional and physical effects. Victims may suffer physical trauma, anxiety, depression, and lasting emotional scars. Families often feel heartbreak, anger, and helplessness. It’s just impossible to fathom someone doing this to anyone.
If sexual assault is suspected, it is critical to act immediately. Do not delay reporting the abuse and seeking experienced legal guidance to help protect the resident and hold those responsible accountable.
Why Nursing Home Injuries Occur in New Orleans
While each facility is different, nursing home injuries often result from systemic issues:
- Chronic understaffing
- Overworked or inadequately trained staff
- Poor communication between caregivers and medical teams
- Failure to follow individualized care plans
- Neglect of facility maintenance or sanitation
Louisiana’s Health Standards Section (HSS) of the Louisiana Department of Health regulates nursing homes, but serious oversight exists. Families must trust their own instincts and remain vigilant to protect their loved ones.
If you suspect your loved one has been neglected or abused, contact Louisiana’s Adult Protective Services (APS) for help filing a report right away.
Getting Help for Nursing Home Injuries in New Orleans
Sadly, Louisiana ranks worst in the country for senior care, and that’s all the more reason to seek justice and accountability for every injury caused by neglect and abuse.
At Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers, our nursing home abuse lawyers investigate every detail of your loved one’s care, and we work with medical experts to review records to uncover negligence.
We help families pursue compensation for:
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Relocation or specialized care
- Wrongful death claims
Contact Dudley DeBosier’s New Orleans Nursing Home Injury Lawyers Today
Every resident deserves safety and compassionate care. Every family deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing their loved one is in caring, capable hands. When injuries do occur, families need experienced advocates on their side.
Our New Orleans nursing home injury lawyers combine deep legal knowledge and compassionate service to help families navigate the heartbreak and complexities of this process.
Whether your loved one resides in Uptown, the French Quarter, or anywhere across Orleans Parish, our team will fight to secure justice and compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help protect your loved one’s rights.
