CAN I SUE A NURSING HOME FOR HARMING MY LOVED ONE?

Nursing homeowners and staff may endanger residents by violating industry regulations or failing to provide reasonable attention in virtually any aspect of care. Some of the most common examples of nursing home negligence and abuse include:

• Medical malpractice: Most nursing home residents require some level of medical care or medication; the staff is responsible for providing necessary treatment and for administering drugs correctly and on time. Failure to treat injuries, illnesses, or other conditions may also constitute medical malpractice:
• Failure to call emergency services: Nursing home staff are responsible for residents’ health. Therefore, if any kind of emergency or dangerous condition arises, then the staff should call for an ambulance to take the affected resident(s) to the hospital. However, some facilities may delay calling 911, fearing that an emergency call may damage the business’s reputation for quality care.
• Failure to address dangerous conditions: Staff must address serious conditions within the facility that may endanger all residents. For example, overheating in the summer is a particular risk for elderly residents, so staff should monitor the building’s temperature.
• Poor supervision: Staff must provide residents with as much supervision and assistance as they need, reducing the risk of slip and fall injuries and other accidents.
• Negligent hiring practices: Nursing homes must maintain strict hiring procedures to ensure an adequate number of staff members with no history of elder abuse or other risk factors.
• Failure to maintain sanitary conditions: Nursing homes must be kept clean and orderly to reduce the risk of infection, disease, and accidents.
• Physical abuse, including assault and sexual abuse: Abusive staff may cause serious injuries to residents through physical or sexual assault.
• Emotional and/or financial abuse: Negligent facilities may hire abusive staff or foster an atmosphere of emotional and verbal abuse.