When the decision is made to move an older person to a long-term care facility such as a nursing home, a retirement home or a convalescent center, the expectation is that the needs of a vulnerable family member will be met by a competent, caring and attentive staff. But sometimes elder care facilities don’t always provide a safe and healthy environment, and seniors can come to harm.
Horrific reports of elder abuse from long term care facilities have sadly made the headlines more than a few times in recent years. And even when a facility is doing everything right, seniors can still suffer serious injuries in nursing homes. No matter whether it’s intentional or unintentional, abuse can leave seniors traumatized, permanently disabled, or worse.
Keeping Seniors Safe is Serious Business
Avoidable accidents resulting in injury or death, intentional harmful actions on the part of staff, as well as failures to act can all leave an elder care facility legally liable for damages and injuries. Many of these incidents involve preventable health and medical problems, either based on the conduct of an employee or an ongoing practice at the facility.
What to Look For
At the top of the concern list for any caring family member would be what happens when an eldercare business hires an employee, who due to lack of training or supervision, ends up neglecting, abusing, or otherwise intentionally harming a resident. Situations such as this can lead to physical injuries, serious infections, broken bones, emotional trauma and more.
Failure to keep the premises reasonably safe and free of hazards can lead to slip and fall accidents. And, when staff fails to properly supervise residents who then fall, get in fights with other residents, or otherwise injure themselves, it’s time to take notice. When a facility is not kept clean and sanitary particularly in the resident rooms and in common areas, then residents are more susceptible to falls, sickness and infections.
When an accident or illness does happen and a failure to provide adequate medical treatment follows, causing harm to a resident, medical malpractice against the nursing home facility and/or against a medical professional who treated the resident may be something to consider.
Other red flags can include bedrail injuries, persistent bedsores, suspicious broken bones, and concussions or spinal injuries (often resulting from falls).
Knowing When to Seek Help
Nursing homes that fail to provide proper healthcare and maintain resident safety very certainly can put a loved one at risk of illness or injury. When this happens, it may be time to take action against the care facility for endangering a loved one’s well-being.
Deciding to pursue legal action is a big consideration under any circumstance. When you’re dealing with the safety and wellbeing of a family member, it’s important to hold people accountable for their actions and the costs of injuries or illnesses, as these expenses can be considerable. Compensation from these claims can help with these costs.
Dr. Russell Sawyer has the medical expertise to evaluate your case and will work to provide answers after a thorough review. Because of our understanding of law, medicine and the health care system, we may be able to seek compensation on your behalf. We have access to leading medical experts to assist in your recovery and treatment. Contact the Law Offices of Dr. Russell W. Sawyer for a free consultation. We can be reached by phone at (707) 888-1118. We represent clients throughout California.
