Abuse and neglect in a nursing home setting occur when nursing facilities are not properly regulated and controlled. When that is the case, staff members can easily neglect residents and fail to perform their duties correctly and properly. Moreover, nursing home abuse and neglect can take on several different forms.
In some cases, a nursing home staff member may be downright abusive, such as physically, sexually, or verbally abusing the patient. Physical and sexual abuse of a nursing home patient often involves unwanted touching, harassment, or sexual penetration, while verbal abuse typically consists of shouting at patients or otherwise threatening, insulting, or harassing them verbally.
First and foremost, nursing homes are responsible for ensuring that their residents receive the medications they need. Nurses and other staff members have a duty to give their patients the correct medications in the correct dosages. They must also make sure that patients receive their medications at the correct time of day.
Mixing up residents’ medications or giving them the wrong dosages may cause patients to become seriously ill and can even have fatal consequences, in some circumstances. In any case, the nursing home may be held responsible for this negligence.
Nursing homes are also neglectful towards patients when they fail to provide patients with the proper care and treatment they deserve. For example, the nursing home may fail to regularly bathe the patient, fail to provide a patient with their meals, or fail to provide the patient with their medication at the proper times of day (or may mix up patients’ medications). All of these types of carelessness can result in serious consequences to the nursing home resident, including suffering an injury or illness, for which the nursing home is ultimately responsible.
Nursing homes are also responsible for responding to a patient’s medical complaints and symptoms. When nursing home staff members fail to take patients’ vital signs regularly or fail to respond to complaints of chest pains, they may suffer from a heart attack, stroke, or some other serious medical condition that may cause further problems or even death.
Nursing homes must also see to it that their staff members adequately supervise residents at all times. They must ensure that the nursing home is secure so that a resident cannot leave the facility on their own. Staff members must be sure to monitor residents’ movements and do everything possible to prevent residents from harming themselves and others. When nursing homes do not adequately supervise their patients, and a patient becomes injured, then the nursing home may be deemed liable for negligence.
Finally, nursing homes are also negligent when they fail to properly maintain their premises. Nursing homes must be especially careful that patient rooms, common areas (including hallways throughout the facility), and bathrooms are kept clean and free from spills and other debris.
Failing to keep the facilities clean can lead to the spread of germs and cause residents to become ill. Failing to keep the floors clean and free from debris can cause residents to fall and suffer serious injuries, including a bone fracture or some other serious injury, such as a spinal cord injury or a traumatic head injury.
If your loved one was injured while residing at a nursing home, and you believe that abuse or neglect may have played a part, the knowledgeable Atlanta nursing home negligence lawyers at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can assist you. Our legal team can investigate the circumstances of the alleged abuse or neglect and can take legal action on your behalf, if necessary.
