Some people experience direct abuse in nursing homes. Workers become physically abusive, pushing or hitting the people in their care. They might belittle and otherwise emotionally abuse vulnerable adults.
Other times, older adults living in nursing homes suffer the consequences of negligent care. Workers forget to provide them with medication, do not adequately assist them with hygiene or expose them to unnecessary risk of infections or infestations.
All too often, older adults living in nursing homes experience significant medical setbacks because nursing home workers fail to identify and properly treat their medical challenges.
Minor issues can spiral out of control quickly
Older adults have compromised immune function when compared with younger adults. They are more susceptible to infections and take longer to heal from injuries. Nursing home workers should be fastidious about meeting the medical needs of older adults and ensuring that individuals, as well as the spaces they occupy, are clean enough for overall safety.
Without appropriate treatment, minor issues can become major medical events. People with scabies can develop secondary infections that may prove deadly. Bedsores can go beyond painful surface wounds to deep tissue wounds that can cause nerve damage and even fatal infections. Residents in nursing homes should receive the support they need to be safe and healthy, and they shouldn’t have to endure mistreatment and neglect.
In cases where it is clear that better treatment could have prevented a medical condition from progressing, residents and their families may have grounds for a nursing home negligence lawsuit. Requesting compensation for medical expenses and increased care costs can help those affected by nursing home negligence limit their losses.