Here are three signs of nursing home neglect that you'll want to watch for in your loved ones. Nursing home neglect can have potentially deadly consequences for the victims, so it's imperative that you watch out for the signs that someone you love isn't being cared for properly by the nursing home staff.

1: Poor Hygiene

If someone you love doesn't seem to be getting the baths and other cleaning they need, it's a sign of neglect. Nursing home facilities that fail to provide for basic hygiene needs can sometimes end up directly contributing to the illnesses, or even deaths, of their residents. Be sure that the residents of the nursing home that your loved on resides at always seem to be clean and well taken care of.

2: Losing Weight

Some people will drop a lot of weight as they age, but sudden declines in weight that aren't the results of a specific illness are always bad signs. If you see your loved one losing weight very rapidly, they may not be getting the nutrition that they need. When this happens, the risks are very real and very severe. It's always good to ask a physician about a situation where someone you love is losing weight quickly; it's a symptom of many dangerous diseases and disorders.

While nursing home abuse is common in today’s society, one hardly expects to encounter such graphic images as reported at Cathedral Rock in Fort Worth, TX. The Star Telegram reported on the story and stated that the U.S. Attorney found the nursing home staff responsible for gross nursing home negligence, considering that “it did not bathe, adequately, feed or provide toileting for people.”

Additionally, the staff of this Fort Worth nursing home left the wounds of some of its residents untreated for so long that maggot infestation began. Some of the residents required amputations of their infected body parts because of the abuse of these nursing homes. Along with a neglect of nursing home claim, the U.S. Attorney also discovered that the nursing home cheated the federal Medicare program.

The government has already filed criminal and civil penalties against the nursing home for abuse of the elderly and will receive $1.6 million dollars in settlement. The Star Telegram also reported that company owner C. Kent Harrington, of Fort Worth, entered into a criminal deferred prosecution agreement for a two-year period. Slaps on the wrist not withstanding, the nursing home will still continue to receive healthcare payments from taxpayers.