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Bacterial and viral infections affect millions of individuals each year. For young people, contaminations are often easily treated and quickly resolved. On the other hand, for adults over the age of 65, it’s not uncommon for complications to advance after infection leading to chronic poor health, ongoing discomfort, and a higher risk of hospitalization. Nursing home residents in particular—who may be especially prone to infection due to factors such as age and chronic medical conditions—should be kept safe from all types of harm, including infections.
When a contagious disease is present in a nursing home, the facility must do everything it can to prevent the disease from spreading and infecting elderly residents. Nursing homes that turn a blind eye to elder abuse or neglect leading to untreated infections should be held accountable for their negligent actions. For help receiving the compensation your family deserves, contact the experienced lawyers Dalli and Marino as soon as possible.
Why Untreated Infections Are Dangerous
Because symptoms are often overlooked—primarily because older individuals don’t always experience a high fever with infection the way healthier people do—illnesses can be much harder to diagnose for elderly adults. Nonspecific symptoms, such as loss of appetite, a decline in functioning, lack of control over the bladder, and mental status changes, may present an infection.
Infections not noticed or appropriately treated, particularly if they’re contagious, can easily cause illness and loss of life to nursing home residents. This risk is exceptionally high if you fall into the following categories:
- You’re 65 years or older
- You have a chronic medical condition such as cancer or diabetes that compromises your immune system
- You live in close quarters with others
- You don’t practice good hygiene, such as hand washing
Nursing homes are composed of an elderly, ailing patient population. Infectious diseases can spread like wildfire in nursing homes because patients have a weakened immune system and can’t fight infection the way most people can. For this reason, most state laws require a nursing home to implement infection control and prevention measures.
Why Does Neglect Occur?
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that as many as one to three million residents in long-term care facilities face infections each year, with as many as 380,000 residents dying due to infection. This high rate of infections is, in part, a result of nursing homes failing to follow proper infection control procedures or providing substandard care to vulnerable elderly residents. So, why does neglect occur at such a high rate?
One explanation is understaffing and lack of proper training. When caregivers are untrained, overworked, and underpaid, they’re less likely to fulfill all of their duties. They’re far more prone to make mistakes or ignore a resident’s needs, which can lead to infections going unnoticed or untreated. Likewise, nursing homes sometimes fail to vet their employees. Before hiring nursing home staff, nursing homes should run criminal record and background checks that account for any staffing issues or prior convictions at other facilities. Likewise, they should thoroughly interview applicants to eliminate candidates that are not well-suited to be caregivers.
Additionally, nursing homes are required by federal law to have Infection Prevention and Control Programs in place to prevent the spread of severe illnesses like the seasonal flu, SARS, and COVID-19. When not followed closely, infection and outbreak are always a possibility. Administrators and staff members should always work to improve the health and safety of their residents. Otherwise, they may be held responsible for any injuries they caused through their inaction.
Call an Expert New York City Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
If you or a loved one is facing an infection because of nursing home neglect, it may be in your best interest to discuss your options with the trusted attorneys at Dalli and Marino. After evaluating your situation and examining your claim, our legal team will protect you and your family and work to recover compensation for the pain and suffering you or your loved one faced.
We’re a group of knowledgeable nursing home abuse lawyers whose settlements and verdicts have recovered millions of dollars for our clients since 1996. Our team of expert trial attorneys approaches each case on an individual basis and is committed to helping you recover the money your family deserves. Get in touch with us at (888) 465-8790 or complete our contact form today.
