The common adage, "Respect your elders," doesn't appear to be more than just that as some of our frailest residents on Ohio are not being properly looked after. The elderly can require round-the-clock care and attention. Many are housed in retirement facilities and some Ohio families are devastated when they find out too late that grandma or grandpa was the tragic victim of hospital neglect.

Reportedly, the number of nursing homes that are cited for deficiencies is on the rise. In 2005 the percentage was reported to be 86.1 and then rose to a recorded 87.4 percent in 2007. Some nursing homes in Ohio even received a classification as "consistently bad" in a USA Today nursing home ranking.

There are several horror stories of nursing home neglect that would make the heart of anyone ache. One elderly gentleman in Colorado died due to malnourishment and dehydration after he wasn't properly fed and looked after in the nursing home he was staying in. That isn't even the worst of it, the poor man had a reported baseball-sized bed sore on his buttock and scrotum that was infect, likely causing extreme discomfort.

That gentleman's family was rightfully infuriated. They decided to take legal action against the neglect that their family members suffered and were successfully awarded $3.2 million in damages. If a resident of Ohio maintains suspicions that their family member may be a victim of nursing home neglect, the family should start asking questions of the doctors and nurses. Additionally, experienced legal counsel can help pursue damages.

Source: Injury Board, "Nursing home patient dies of baseball-sized bed sore; family wins $3.2 million judgment," Amber Scott, May 3, 2012