A nursing home or assisted-living facility has an important legal responsibility to ensure that all residents are provided with the care and supervision they require. Failure to effectively monitor residents due to lack of available staff, mismanagement or other issues can be a serious issue, one that may place nursing home residents at greater risk. Having a loved one who may have suffered from a preventable injury or complications caused by poor monitoring or lack of effective patient care may wish to take legal action in order to address the situation.
Issues Which May Contribute to Compromised Care
Understaffing is a very common problem within the nursing home industry. Unscrupulous facilities may intentionally take on more patients than their staff is equipped to handle in an effort to maximize their profitability. Even the most well-managed facilities can still experience a temporary labor shortage due to a variety of issues. Regardless of the cause, no nursing home resident should have to suffer due to a lack of proper care and supervision. Facilities that are unable or unwilling to properly care for their residents may be subject to legal fines, loss of licence or be ordered to provide financial assistance and compensation to families of loved one’s who may have been injured or the victim of medical malpractice or neglect.
Nursing home residents who suffer from a mobility impairment that may increase their risk of a fall-related injury, those who have memory or cognitive issues and patients who suffer from an illness that requires regular or even constant monitoring require adequate supervision. Even a nursing home resident who may only require minimal assistance with their day to day activities can be injured or unable to obtain proper treatment for an emerging medical issue should a facility fail to provide proper supervision. Any issues that may occur due to neglect from the nursing home staff are never matters that should be taken lightly.
Potential Consequences of Inadequate Supervision
Even a minor slip-and-fall accident can have serious and even life-threatening consequences. Homes and facilities that may be guilty of neglecting their residents may be responsible for placing patients at serious risk. Medical conditions that escape notice and those that are not managed effectively because a patient was not properly monitored may prove to be just as severe as an accidental injury. Paying for the increased medical costs needed to deal with a preventable injury or complications to an illness or medical condition can place significant strain on a family’s financial resources. Taking legal action against a facility that may have caused or contributed to an injury or the the deteriorating health of a loved one can be an important step.
Providing for an Elderly or Infirm Family Member
Being forced to move an elderly loved one away from the home in order to ensure that they are able to obtain adequate care is often a difficult decision. Discovering that a facility has been negligent with regard to its duties to care for a family member can make matters even worse. For those who have had a loved one who was injured, deprived of essential care or who was not provided with a safe environment due to the actions of a facility, seeking out legal assistance in order to address the situation can be a concern of paramount importance. From accurately determining fault to exploring various legal options and alternatives, the guidance and insight of a professional attorney may play a key role in ensuring that families are able to make wiser and more effective decisions.
Knowing What to Do Following an Accident or Incident
Learning that a loved one has been injured or that they have developed complications to an existing illness is always difficult. Even families that suspect a facility may have been at fault or that have reason to believe the staff had failed to provide their family member with the care and attention they required may be unsure as to how to move forward. Any incident that results in serious injury, compromised health or other significant consequences that occurs within a nursing home may be cause to contact a legal professional.
If you have a loved one or family member who may have been injured due to the negligence or inadequate care of a nursing home or assisted-living facility, then it may be time to contact the professionals