The decision to place a loved one in a nursing home is very difficult for most families, but it is often the only option. Unfortunately, nursing home negligence, including neglect and abuse, are all too common. If someone you love has been harmed by nursing home negligence, you may be able to recover substantial compensation. Please, do not hesitate to schedule your free consultation with one of the experienced Alabama nursing home lawyers profiled on this website.
Types of Nursing Home Negligence
Although physical violence and intentional abuse do occur in nursing homes, the most common forms of nursing home negligence are less obvious and often unintentional. Nursing home negligence includes:
- Neglect
- Medication errors
- Failure to recognize and address malnutrition and dehydration
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse and exploitation
- Financial exploitation
- Mental and emotional abuse
- Failure to provide proper medical care
- Use of physical or chemical restraints
- Failure to prevent attacks by other residents, visitors, or strangers
- Failure to provide social and physical activities
- Failure to fully monitor and supervise residents
- Property theft
- Failure to prevent falls
Causes of Nursing Home Abuse
While there are some sick individuals who abuse nursing home residents out of cruelty or for financial gain, most nursing home workers care about the residents and try to do a good job. Poor policies, understaffing, and other negligence on the part of the nursing home can make it impossible for staff to devote the necessary time and attention to each patient. Nursing home negligence that leads to abuse, neglect, injuries and death, includes:
- Inadequate care planning
- Failure to follow the care plan
- Unsanitary practices and conditions
- Poor record keeping policies and procedures
- Failure to follow record keeping policies and procedures
- Inadequate staff-to-resident ratio
- Staff working too many hours
- Poor screening and hiring practices
- Hiring of undertrained and under-skilled staff to cut costs
- Failure to properly train staff members
- Failure to monitor staff
- Inadequate security
The underlying problems in the majority of nursing home negligence cases are the result of the nursing home cutting corners to save money and make a bigger profit.
Nursing homes can be held financially responsible for the injuries and deaths they cause and the actions of their employees. To learn more about nursing home negligence and your legal rights, please browse our directory of Alabama law firms and speak to one of the experienced Alabama nursing home lawyers profiled on this website.
