Nursing home workers cannot prevent all medical issues for the older adults who live at these facilities. Workers cannot control the decisions that individual residents make. They also have no control over the actions of visitors who might bring foods that contain allergens or expose residents to pathogens that make them sick.
That being said, nursing home procedures can significantly reduce the likelihood of medical complications in a long-term care facility. Proper testing can help ensure that residents receive the support they require for their health and safety. Failing to conduct appropriate assessments is a form of negligence that could help strengthen a malpractice lawsuit against a long-term care facility.
When is testing necessary?
Intake testing is standard procedure at most long-term care facilities. They need to ensure that the facility can actually meet the current support needs of a vulnerable individual. Testing during intake can help establish the likelihood of an individual falling or wandering off from the facility.
Facilities generally need to retest residents once or twice a year, even if their condition seems stable. Retesting is also beneficial after a major incident, such as a fall that results in a broken hip.
Testing when residents show signs of cognitive decline and other challenges can also help ensure that they receive the support necessary for their health and safety. If nursing homes do not make necessary adjustments to the forms of support they provide as people’s conditions change, residents may be at risk of preventable illnesses, injuries and major incidents, such as elopement.
Proving that a nursing home did not adhere to basic care standards can help families justify a nursing home malpractice lawsuit. Concerned family members can take legal action in response to a loved one suffering unnecessarily due to inadequate nursing home care.