Nursing homes have to maintain adequate cleanliness and hygiene at all times. Good hygiene helps prevent infections and other diseases, such as bedsores. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes practice adequate hygiene, which can put their residents at risk. However, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), a nursing home has to provide a certain standard of care to residents, which includes adequate hygiene and cleanliness.
Poor hygiene is nursing home neglect. If your loved one suffered serious injuries due to poor hygiene in their nursing home, you may have legal recourse and should speak to your Austin soiled clothes or other signs of poor hygiene lawyer for help as soon as possible.
You could potentially hold the nursing home responsible for your loved one’s injuries and financial losses due to poor hygiene. Call your nursing home lawyer Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now for help with your case at (800) 842-6336.
Poor Hygiene in Nursing Homes
Poor hygiene can be dangerous for all nursing home residents. There are several ways in which a nursing home can neglect its residents’ needs when it comes to adequate hygiene.
A nursing home should ensure that all surfaces, especially those frequently touched, are cleaned and disinfected regularly. Staff should clean all rooms and bathrooms, often emphasizing toilets, baths, showers, and sinks.
The personal hygiene of residents is of the utmost importance also. There should be adequate numbers of staff to ensure the daily personal hygiene needs of each resident are met and that they are washed and groomed regularly. This also includes changing residents into clean and fresh clothes frequently and ensuring they have clean and hygienic bedlinen.
The Signs of Bad Hygiene
You may already know that something is not right when you visit your loved one in the nursing home. The signs of lacking hygiene are easy to spot and can include:
- Soiled clothes and bedsheets
- Residents appearing unwashed and ungroomed
- Residents’ diapers remain unchanged for long periods
- Rooms, bathrooms, and common areas look dirty and untidy
- Spillages are not cleaned up promptly
- There are unpleasant odors at the nursing home
- Recurring infections make the rounds at the home
- Food is prepared in unsanitary conditions
An apparent lack of hygiene jeopardizes the lives and health of all nursing home residents.
For a free legal consultation with a Soiled Clothes or Other Signs of Poor Hygiene Lawyer serving Austin, call (800) 842-6336
The Consequences of Poor Hygiene
The consequences of poor hygiene in the nursing home can be life-threatening for seniors. Figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that between one and three million serious infections occur annually in long-term care facilities. Many of these infections may be preventable with good hygiene procedures.
As we age, our immune systems age too and become increasingly ineffective at fighting illnesses. Seniors may also have medical conditions that further compromise their immune systems. Nursing home acquired infections can have terrible consequences on a senior’s health and may even contribute to premature death.
Some of the serious medical conditions caused by inadequate hygiene can include:
- Urinary tract infections (UTI)
- Bacterial infections
- Bedsores
- Viral respiratory infections such as influenza and coronavirus
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Staph infections
- Skin and soft tissue infections
Unsanitary conditions can be life-threatening for seniors, and it is a nursing home’s responsibility to ensure a clean environment as well as adequate personal hygiene of all residents.
If your loved one’s health suffered due to a lack of hygiene, consult with an Austin soiled clothes or other signs of poor hygiene lawyer to find out about your legal options and next best steps.
Austin Soiled Clothes or Other Signs of Poor Hygiene Lawyer Near Me (800) 842-6336
The Nursing Home May Be Liable
If your loved one suffered injuries or died due to a preventable infection or condition that arose due to a lack of hygiene, you could potentially hold the nursing home to account for your damages. Poor hygiene in nursing homes is a form of neglect.
Poor hygiene issues can result from a nursing home administration cutting corners and being too focused on profits. Nursing homes may be liable if:
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They Are Understaffed
Not having adequate numbers of staff can have devastating consequences. The needs of residents, such as their personal hygiene, may go unattended. Staff may rush their duties and make mistakes, for example, forgetting to wash their hands when leaving one resident and attending to another. This can result in viruses and bacteria spreading uncontrolled throughout the home and from staff to residents.
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Employees Who Lack Training and Qualifications
A nursing home may also be short of sufficiently qualified and trained staff. Untrained staff may fail to notice and treat any infections. They may also be unaware of important hygiene protocols. Those involved in food preparation may lack basic safe food handling training. All this can put residents at an unacceptable risk.
The nursing home is ultimately responsible for ensuring that residents are safe and well cared for. This includes having adequate numbers of qualified staff on-site to ensure good hygiene. If you can prove that the nursing home was negligent and that this caused the injuries and damages of your loved one, you could potentially recover compensation including but not limited to:
- Medical expenses
- Moving costs
- Pain and suffering
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Your Austin soiled clothes or other signs of poor hygiene lawyer can help you file a personal injury or wrongful death case against a negligent nursing home.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Fight for Your Loved One’s Rights
If your loved one suffered injuries or passed away due to poor hygiene in their nursing home, you might have legal recourse. We understand that going up against a nursing home and its legal experts can feel intimidating. However, do not let this stop you from fighting for justice and pursuing compensation. We can take some of the weight off your shoulders and be by your side every step of the way.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can build your case against a negligent nursing home and fight for your loved one’s rights. We can start working for you right away without charging you any up-front attorney’s fees.
Contact us today to find out whether you could initiate legal action against a nursing home by dialing (800) 842-6336.
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