Nursing homes treat some of the most vulnerable members of society, and workers have a duty to provide quality care and to be attentive to patients’ needs. In some cases, however, residents in long-term care facilities suffer serious injuries. That may occur because of abuse or neglect, or employees may provide substandard care because they were not given adequate training.
If your loved one has been injured in a nursing home, your family may be struggling to figure out what to do. The injuries may have required expensive medical care and may have caused your relative’s overall condition to worsen.
A Jacksonville nursing home injury lawyer may be able to help hold the nursing home accountable. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can file a personal injury lawsuit against the facility and seek compensation for your loved one’s medical bills and pain and suffering. Call our office today at (800) 842-6336 to speak with a member of our staff.
Common Nursing Home Injuries
People who live in long-term care facilities may have a variety of medical conditions that make them weak and susceptible to injuries. They may also suffer from numerous forms of abuse and neglect, according to the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. When seniors receive inadequate care or are abused or neglected, they may experience serious or life-threatening consequences.
Fall-Related Injuries
Senior citizens who live in nursing homes may have limited mobility and problems with balance and coordination because of arthritis, joint deterioration, Parkinson’s, and other conditions. These conditions can give them trouble walking and using the bathroom without assistance.
If nursing home workers do not provide help when needed, either because of willful neglect or because of short staffing, a resident may attempt to do something without assistance, even though they cannot do so safely. That may lead to a fall, which can result in head injuries, broken bones, and other forms of serious harm.
Bedsores
Some patients who are seriously ill or injured are unable to get out of bed or to change positions without assistance. In those cases, it is essential that workers move patients periodically so that they do not develop bedsores.
If employees fail to move a bedridden senior citizen, they may end up with broken skin. The condition can be extremely painful, and bedsores can become infected if they are not detected and treated promptly.
Choking
Elderly patients in a nursing home may have trouble chewing and swallowing because of a dental problem or another type of medical issue. Those patients may have individual treatment plans that require staff members to cut food into small pieces or to puree it so it can be consumed safely.
Sometimes nursing home employees do not follow those guidelines, either because they are overwhelmed by the demands of caring for numerous patients and forget or decide to cut corners or because they were not given appropriate training.
Medication Errors
Senior citizens who live in nursing homes often take multiple medications to treat a variety of health conditions. Those drugs need to be administered carefully. Patients must be given the right medications in the proper dosages at the appropriate times.
Drugs must also be administered correctly. For instance, some can be crushed to make them easier to swallow, but others should never be crushed because it could be unsafe.
Only staff members who have received appropriate training should administer medications. They should be able to do so with as few distractions as possible to avoid errors. If a facility is understaffed, managers may instruct workers who have not received the necessary training to give patients medications, or employees may be forced to work in conditions in which they face numerous distractions.
Those conditions can lead to a serious medication error. For example, a patient may receive the wrong drug or the wrong amount and may suffer serious side effects, an allergic reaction, an overdose, or a potentially lethal drug interaction.
Malnutrition and Dehydration
Nursing home residents should be provided with nutritious food in appropriate amounts and should be given enough water and other liquids to keep them adequately hydrated. Age, various medical conditions, and medication side effects may make it difficult for seniors to eat without assistance or may cause them to become dehydrated. Nursing home staff members have a duty to take steps to deal with those challenges and to make sure that residents receive the nutrients and hydration they need.
Sometimes workers do not provide food that meets an individual’s dietary needs. They may fail to adhere to a doctor’s recommendations or may deliver the wrong meal because of a misunderstanding or lack of training. Workers may fail to help with feeding or take a meal away before a resident has had enough time to eat. Employees may also fail to monitor an individual’s consumption of water and other beverages. Staff members who have not been adequately trained may not detect signs of malnutrition or dehydration and take action.
How a Jacksonville Nursing Home Injury Lawyer Can Assist Your Family
Our team can investigate to figure out what led to your relative’s injuries. We may review their medical records and nursing home records related to an accident, feeding, medication administration, hiring and training practices, and other matters, depending on the situation.
If we find evidence that your relative was abused or that they suffered because of someone’s negligence, we may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the nursing home. We can pursue a financial award to cover your loved one’s medical expenses and pain and suffering on your loved one’s behalf.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today to learn more about how a lawyer can guide you through the legal process.
For a free legal consultation with a Nursing Home Injury Lawyer serving Jacksonville, call (800) 794-0444
Hire a Jacksonville Nursing Home Injury Lawyer
The law limits the amount of time victims and their families have to seek justice. According to Florida Statute §429.296, a personal injury lawsuit must be filed within two years of the incident or within two years of the time when the incident was discovered or should have been discovered through due diligence. The very latest you can submit your lawsuit is four years after the incident occurred.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 842-6336, so our team can begin gathering evidence and working on your loved one’s case as quickly as possible.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
