Decubitus ulcers also called bedsores and/or pressure sores can be serious and life threatening. Failure of the nurses to reposition the patient, allowing them to stay in the same position for hours at a time causes bedsore/pressure sores. Failure by the nursing home to have a sufficient number of nurses aids to assist the patient in turning from side to side, change out urine soaked bed sheets or feces on the patients skin, may lead to skin or dermal breakdown leading to festering necrotic sores. If these ulcers are left untreated, these pressure ulcers can advance into septicemia, gangrene, and osteomylitis and even death.
Many times these can be eliminated by the spending of resources "money" by a Nursing Home to hire additional nurses, aids, buy sufficient number of extra linens, gloves, gowns and dressings. Also, many times the nurses are not adequately trained, have criminal backgrounds of abuse or assaults, do not follow the patient individualized care plan, and do not follow the families wishes,or the doctor's orders and are verbally and physically abuse to our loved ones.
Other Forms of Neglect & Abuse
Nursing home abuse and/or nursing home neglect can take many forms including bedsores, skin ulcers, pressure sores, decubitus ulcers, septicemia, gangrene, malnutrition, dehydration, burns, sexual assault (rape), falls, overdoses, infections, osteomyelitis, threats, strangulations and deaths. Unfortunately most of theses abuses to a patient's dignity go unreported & unpunished. Nursing home law states that a nursing home must care for the resident in such a manner and in such an environment as will promote maintenance or enhancement of the quality of life of each resident.
Duties of a Nursing Home
Further the nursing facility "must provide services and activities to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, psycholosocial well-being of each resident in accordance with a written plan of care. This plan of care describes the medical, nursing and psychosocial needs of the resident and is to be periodically reviewed and updated. Further the nursing home must conduct a comprehensive assessment that describes the patient's capability to perform daily functions and significant impairments.
Shockingly a large percentage of nursing homes fail to protect the residents from nursing home abuse and neglect. Because money is the name of the game instead, many nursing homes treat the residents like a bunch of cattle, ignoring their duties and obligations under the law. For many residents, their final days of this earth are a living hell, instead of the "GOLDEN YEARS " they worked so hard for and deserve !
Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Nursing Home cases can be especially rewarding to me as an attorney, in that soon after lawsuits get filed, in many cases the overall care and appearance of many of the nursing homes change . The nursing homes start to get cleaner, smell better, food taste improves, bad Nurses seem to be dismissed and MOST IMPORTANTLY.. the care to the patients improves...When the owners and the Staff know that notes and photos are being taken, often times they quickly CLEAN UP THEIR ACT...as they now have attorneys, families, investigators sometimes State inspectors overseeing the Nursing Home.
Nursing Home Neglect ? Talk to a Lawyer
If you or a loved one have been the victim of neglect or abuse by a Nursing Home resulting in severe pressure sores, bedsores, septicema, gangrene, sexual assualt, rape, infections or their wrongful death, then call and speak to an attorney about your legal rights to a Nursing Home Negligence or Malpractice Lawsuit.
