Many families make the difficult decision to place their elderly loved one in an assisted living facility. While residents of an assisted living facility receive care in a more home-like or social setting, they still receive assistance with daily tasks that they remain unable to perform on their own. An assisted living facility has the duty and responsibility to ensure that all its residents always remain safe and cared for properly. However, in many cases, serious accidents occur that are entirely preventable due to the negligence of the assisted living facility. If your elderly loved one suffered any injuries, or even death, due to an accident resulting from an assisted living facility’s negligence, you may have the legal right to pursue justice and compensation on their behalf. Consider how a Los Angeles assisted living accident specialist at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you understand your legal rights. Please call and speak with a member of our team to get started.
Assisted Living Centers vs. Nursing Homes
Many families remain unaware of the differences between an assisted living facility and a nursing home until the time comes that they need to get help caring for their elderly family member. The choice is always a difficult one, and there are significant differences and distinctions between both kinds of care. The United States Department of Health and Human Services released its Compendium of Residential Care and Assisted Living Regulations and Policy that compares all of the assisted living regulations in all states. This may help a family make decisions regarding where to place their elderly loved one. The differences between assisted living facilities and nursing homes are critical, as both provide different services for their residents. The following are some ways that assisted living facilities care for elderly residents differently than nursing homes.
- Assisted living facilities have a more home-like atmosphere, like apartments or social settings, and promote a more independent lifestyle for seniors.
- Assisted living facilities will provide activities and personal care, like nursing homes, however, nursing homes will not only administer medication, they also have skilled nurses on staff as well as the ability to perform some medical treatments in-house.
- Assisted living facilities do not provide medical transportation, and do not care for elderly residents that need extensive medical care.
- Seniors that develop neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia are always better served in a nursing home, which typically has additional resources to care for these types of serious conditions.
Types of Accidents in Assisted Living Facilities
While any type of accident can happen in an assisted living facility, there are some that tend to happen with more frequency than others. The following are some types of accidents that occur in assisted living facilities where elderly residents may suffer serious injuries or even death.
Slip and Fall Accidents
As we age, we lose muscle strength, stability, and flexibility, which can lead to falls and the inability to recover easily when injured. Elderly residents of assisted living facilities may have issues with balance and strength leading to serious falls and injuries. Some of the types of injuries from slip and fall accidents include traumatic brain injuries, lacerations, severe bruising, contusions, sprains, broken or fractured bones, spinal cord damage, nerve damage, internal organ damage, internal bleeding, or even premature death. Even a minor fall can result in serious complications, as an elderly person may need to stay in bed for a period of time as they recover, leading to an increased risk of bedsores. In other cases, a serious slip and fall accident may result in a resident feeling terrified to move again and suffer another fall, thus reducing their willingness to engage in social activities or even perform any independent activities. Assisted living facilities have a responsibility to ensure that their residents never slip and fall due to negligent supervision. If your elderly loved one slipped and fell due to negligent supervision or hazardous conditions in an assisted living facility, consider how a Los Angeles assisted living accident lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may help you with your case.
Negligent Supervision
While negligent supervision in an assisted living facility may lead to slip and falls, it may also lead to even more dangerous circumstances. The assisted living facility has a duty of care to ensure that its residents remain safe. Without proper supervision, elderly residents may leave the premises, fail to receive proper hydration and nutrition, fail to receive the medical treatment they need at the proper time, or fail to assist with daily living activities that residents remain unable to perform for themselves. There are many scenarios in which the elderly in an assisted living facility would suffer catastrophic injuries or harm when left unattended and unsupervised. Any accident or injury resulting from the negligent supervision of the assisted living facility staff may rise to the level of elder abuse or neglect.
Transportation Accidents
Because assisted living facilities do not offer as many medical services or the ability to perform physical therapy for elderly residents, many assisted living facilities will provide transportation for seniors to off-site appointments. Additionally, because assisted living facilities cater to more independent seniors, there are also opportunities for off-site recreational activities in which the residents may participate. However, when an assisted living facility contracts with a third-party transportation service, or when the assisted living facility negligently operates a motor vehicle in which there are elderly residents resulting in a serious accident on the roadways, the assisted living facility may remain liable for any resulting injuries.
For a free legal consultation with a Assisted Living Accidents Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 794-0444
Consider How a San Francisco Assisted Living Accident Lawyer Can Help You
If you believe your elderly loved one in an assisted living facility suffered injuries or even death due to the negligence of the assisted living facility, consider how a San Francisco assisted living accident lawyer can help you possibly obtain compensation and justice on behalf of your elderly loved one. Contact our legal team for free at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to help you understand your legal rights.
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