Attorney
Nursing homes are places you take aging loved ones when they need help with day-to-day activities, nutrition, and overall care. You trust that they are in the best hands and working alongside people that care about their well-being.
Sadly, not all nursing homes have the same standards as you or your family members. When nursing homes fall below the acceptable standard of care, serious injuries can happen. Injuries in nursing homes are different than other premises, and three injuries are much more common than others.
What are the 3 Most Common Nursing Home Injuries?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1.4 million 65 and older adults currently reside in a nursing home. They expect these numbers to double to as much as 3 million by 2030.
With more people entering nursing homes and assisted living facilities, these facilities are becoming overpopulated and that means that they must quickly hire staff members who may not be properly trained or screened before hire.
Not all injuries in a nursing home result from abuse or direct neglect. In fact, the most common injuries stem from the conditions and inadequate staffing.
- Slip and Falls – Each year, a vast majority of the injury claims reported from nursing homes come from slip, trip, and fall accidents. Some of these patients fall more than once per year, especially if they have limited mobility or need assistance getting around. With ailing bodies, these injuries can lead to permanent disability and even death.
- Bedsores – Bedsores, formally referred to as pressure ulcers, develop when immobile patients remain in the same position for too long. This extensive pressure on their skin eventually deteriorates that skin and allows it to break down. In severe cases, the tissue, muscle, and fat become affected and serious infections may occur. Bedsores are preventable and treatable in the early stages. When they advance, they are harder to treat and become life-threatening.
- Overdose and Medication Errors – Medication errors are becoming errors in hospital settings as well as nursing homes. Elderly patients often require medications throughout the day, and most will be on more than one prescription at a time. The nursing home is required to monitor their patient’s prescriptions, ensure they receive the right dose, and that the proper medication is administered.
Holding Negligent Nursing Homes Accountable
If you have noticed the signs of abuse or neglect, or your family member has suffered one of the above-mentioned injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. Also, that nursing home may be in violation of the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act, which means they will face further penalties.
To hold that nursing home accountable or to explore your options for compensation, speak with an attorney that handles these types of complex claims. Speak with a lawyer from Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP today by calling one of our three locations. You can also schedule a consultation with an attorney online.