Scabies can afflict the residents of nursing homes if their bedding, clothing, or other materials are infested with the mites that cause the condition. Scabies can also be spread directly from person to person. It is generally the result of persistent unsanitary conditions and/or nursing home staff being negligent in caring for the needs of the people living under their care.
Symptoms of Scabies
Scabies is a skin condition caused by tiny mites, which burrow beneath the victim’s skin and lay their eggs there. People suffering from scabies endure itching, blisters, rashes, and other health problems.
Scabies is typically only seen in unsanitary living conditions, which gives these mites opportunities to thrive in soiled bedding and other materials. Because they are difficult to see and can spread from person to person, they can pose a particular hardship to long-term communal living facilities such as nursing homes.
These symptoms of scabies can include:
- Intense itching
- Rashes
- Blisters
- Redness
- Bumps
Scabies is spread through direct contact with an infected individual. Soiled bedding and fabrics can also spread the condition. This means there are many opportunities to transfer mites inside a facility like a nursing home, where people live in close proximity and may not immediately recognize the warning signs of scabies for what they are.
More About What Causes Scabies in Nursing Homes
When the nursing home staff neglects to properly clean sheets, blankets, upholstery, and clothing, it gives the mites that cause scabies an opportunity to spread throughout the facility. Age also affects the spread of scabies. Older people tend to have thinner skin, which is easier for the mites that cause scabies to burrow into.
Nursing homes are responsible for providing their residents with a safe, clean-living environment, and their staff must be on the lookout for any conditions that may lead to an outbreak of scabies among the population living in the facility. If a loved one in a nursing home presents this skin condition, you might have grounds to suspect negligence. A Colorado nursing home abuse lawyer can help you investigate further, take all the necessary legal steps to protect your loved one, and even build a personal injury case against the responsible party or parties. Unfortunately, poor hygiene is common across nursing homes and assisted care facilities nationwide, so getting immediate legal help might be in order.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 842-6336
Dealing With Scabies
Treatment for scabies involves the application of medications designed to kill the mites and thoroughly cleaning anything that the patient came into contact with.
Patients should leave the affected area alone and not scratch it. Some examples of treatments a nursing home may employ for scabies include:
- High-strength medicinal ointments.
- Oatmeal baths.
- Anti-itch creams.
- Antihistamine medications to help prevent itching.
- Any combination of the above.
Nursing home staff should be aware of the dangers posed by scabies, the conditions that may encourage an outbreak to occur, and the steps to take in order to resolve the problem. This requires the staff to be diligent and watchful to keep all bedding, linens, and other materials in a clean and sanitary condition, and to identify a resident who may be suffering from scabies right away so treatment can begin as soon as possible.
Liability for Scabies in Nursing Homes
If you or a loved one are suffering from scabies contracted while living in a nursing home or similar care facility, you are not alone. You do not need to suffer from this avoidable, preventable, and curable condition in silence. The nursing home may be liable for your condition, and you can pursue compensation for your losses accordingly.
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Scabies is a painful but preventable skin condition that should be taken seriously. We can help you hold the nursing home accountable for allowing scabies to affect those under their care.
To find out more about what we can do to help prove your case and protect your rights, call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 842-6336. We work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you will pay nothing out of pocket until we have helped you recover the award you are entitled to.
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