The majority of nursing home injuries are preventable, which is why it shouldn’t be assumed that they’re all accidents. Framing them as an accident minimizes the real problem at hand: the negligence of caregivers and nursing home facilities. We entrust our loved ones’ care to nursing homes with the belief that they’re in capable and compassionate hands. We trust that those caring for them will do all they can to ensure they’re free of harm. After all, you were under the impression that seeking long-term care from professionals would be better than doing it yourself. Unfortunately, sometimes situations take a turn for the worse.
Nursing homes are notorious for providing poor care. But when poor care turns into a complete and willful disregard for the welfare of nursing home residents, the outcome may be seriously detrimental to all areas of a victim’s life. If you’re unsure about your specific situation, take a look at five of the most compelling reasons why you should sue a neglectful nursing home in NYC.
Unsafe Living Conditions
Nursing home residents often lack the capability to perform fundamental activities like cleaning and maintaining their living space. This is why many seek long-term care from nursing homes— so they don’t have to worry about failing to fulfill their loved ones’ basic needs. It’s up to nursing home staff and caregivers to routinely check on residents to ensure their space is kept clean and that all their belongings are put in a proper place.
When living conditions are unsafe, whether due to poor sanitation or potentially hazardous objects, nursing home residents have an increased risk of injury or illness.
Negligent Hiring and Background Check Practices
Nearly 95% of nursing home facilities are understaffed. What’s more is that staff at adequately crewed facilities are often overworked, inexperienced, and underpaid. Nursing home executives sometimes hire people without the necessary skills in order to pay them less, and to expedite the process, they often fail to execute appropriate hiring steps.
Not only does this make nursing home staff more susceptible to stress and fatigue, but it may potentially result in residents being cared for by abusive people. Adequate background checks and proper hiring practices are helpful because they allow employers to assess whether an employee is a good fit for the job and, more importantly, if the employee may present some form of harm to a resident.
Inadequate Supervision
When nursing home facilities are significantly understaffed, and the staff lacks the necessary training, skills, and experience, the quality of care residents receive may be mediocre. The biggest issue is supervision because residents must not be left without care for too long. Whether it’s to use the bathroom or change clothes, nursing home staff must constantly supervise residents. When residents lack the supervision they need, they tend to be in worse health.
Financial Abuse
Nursing home residents are vulnerable to financial fraud, scams, and exploitation. Some caregivers may see this as an opportunity to steal money or take items from residents who wouldn’t think twice about it. In some cases, caregivers may influence residents to sign documents without understanding what they’re for or forge signatures with the intent to collect assets from a resident for their own personal advantage.
Dangerously Substandard Medical Care
Dangerously substandard medical care often leads to fatal consequences. Every medical facility has specific standards of care that they must meet. For instance, if a resident complains of having multiple headaches throughout the day, the appropriate action would be for the nursing home to schedule a check-up with a doctor. Serious lapses in such medical care may lead to insurmountable suffering and sometimes the avoidable or untimely death of residents in nursing home facilities.
Act Against Nursing Home Neglect in NYC with Dalli & Marino, LLP
Over the last 24 years, the NYC nursing home abuse lawyers at Dalli & Marino, LLP have dedicated their efforts to protecting the rights of nursing home residents. As our client, you can expect that we’ll go the extra mile to ensure your loved one and family are fully compensated. Together, we’ll ensure that negligence parties bear strict responsibility for the harm they’ve inflicted on your loved one.
At Dalli & Marino, LLP, we hold an impressive history of successful outcomes and are highly respected by our clients, colleagues, and the NYC community. On behalf of our entire firm, we want to express our sincere sympathy for the pain and suffering your loved one has endured. These excruciating circumstances motivate us to work even harder for the results you need. For a free consultation with Dalli & Marino, LLP, call (888) 465-8790 or complete our contact form today.
