Nursing home abuse can take many forms. In some instances, a nursing home resident may suffer physical or mental abuse from nursing home staff. In other cases, the staff may fail to meet the medical needs and concerns of a resident.
Such medical concerns may include attending to an infection or preventing the infection from occurring in the first place. Untreated infections in an elderly resident may cause life-threatening medical conditions, especially if they have other underlying medical conditions. In some cases, these untreated infections can lead to death.
It is troubling to think that a nursing home—a place you had considered a safe haven for your loved one—could be an unhealthy environment. As unfortunate as it may be, nursing home residents suffer from preventable injuries at the hands of negligent caregivers.
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), at least 10% of nursing home residents suffer some form of abuse in nursing home facilities. However, the research also believes that such cases are severely underreported.
If your loved one suffered injuries as a result of untreated infections in a nursing home, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm might be able to help. We will help you gather evidence to prove that your loved one’s infections were not treated promptly. We will also file a compensation claim or lawsuit against negligent parties. Call us at (800) 842-6336 to see if a Nashville untreated infections lawyer can help you with your case.
Most Nursing Home Infections Are Preventable
With proper maintenance and sanitation, many of the infections that residents suffer may be preventable. However, when a nursing home fails to exercise proper caution and reasonable care to prevent and treat patients, residents may suffer severe injuries.
Nursing homes owe their residents a duty to ensure that the facility is always safe and properly maintained. When a nursing home and its staff fail in this regard and cause injuries to your loved one, you may file a claim against the negligent parties.
Common Nursing Home Infections
In a nursing home facility, residents live in a confined space and in close proximity to each other. Understandably, infections and diseases spread quickly and are common in nursing home settings. The most common infections in nursing homes may include:
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
A UTI happens when bacteria inflames a section of the urinary system. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UTIs are the second most commonly diagnosed infections in nursing home facilities. Nursing home residents are prone to urinary infections for various reasons. Some of them include:
- Unhygienic use of a catheter
- Co-existing conditions that may exacerbate symptoms of UTIs
- Weakened immunity due to aging
Scabies
Scabies is an infestation of the upper layer of skin by small mites. Due to the thin skin of older adults, the bites can cause a series of reactions on a resident’s body and may spread to the entire body.
Influenza
Aging bodies are more susceptible to the flu due to their weakened immunity, and it may take longer to heal. The close-quarter living of nursing homes may aggravate the threat of influenza to cause severe illness to residents.
Poor hygiene is a common cause of infections in nursing home facilities. Additionally, understaffing and lack of proper training by the staff may also contribute to infection in nursing home residents. If your loved one suffered a serious infection while in a nursing home, you may have legal recourse against the nursing home or its staff.
Our Legal Team Can Help Prove Negligence
After learning about your loved one’s infections, it is imperative to express your concerns to the facility and caregivers. First, make sure to get medical care for your loved one. Make sure that you record all the communication with the nursing home authorities in writing. If there is no response or change, it is time to file a compensation claim against the facility on the basis of negligence.
Proving negligence can be challenging. The burden is on you to prove that the nursing home owed a duty of care to your loved one, the nursing home breached the duty of care, and your loved one suffered injuries and financial loss as a result of the breach. Our legal team can help you prove negligence on the part of the nursing home.
For a free legal consultation with a Nashville Untreated Infections Lawyer serving Nashville, call (800) 842-6336
Compensation for Untreated Infections in Nursing Home Residents
When your loved one suffered injuries as a result of untreated infections, they may be entitled to financial compensation. Depending on the severity of the infection, you may file:
- A personal injury claim due to negligence
- A wrongful death claim if your loved one died
Pursuing these claims against the nursing home and its lawyers can feel intimidating. The rigorous process of collecting evidence and building a solid case can prove to be lengthy and challenging. Fortunately, a Nashville untreated infections lawyer can handle the process and pursue compensation on behalf of your loved one. You may recover awards for:
- Medical bills and hospitalization to treat infections
- Pain and suffering caused by the ordeal
- Cost of relocating to another facility
- Funeral costs if you lost a loved one
Nashville Nashville Untreated Infections Lawyer Near Me (800) 842-6336
We Can Help You File the Claim on Time
Filing a compensation claim against the nursing home whose negligence exacerbated your loved one’s infections may require you to do so within a state-mandated restriction.
According to Tennessee statutes of limitations under Tennessee Code § 28-3-104, you have one year from the time of the injury to file a lawsuit against the negligent nursing home. One of our team members can help you file the claim on time. Failure to meet this deadline could mean that you and your loved one lose your right to compensation.
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If abuse and neglect of a nursing home led to an infection, or if a known infection was left untreated, you and your loved one may be entitled to file a claim against the nursing home. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 842-6336 a free case review.
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