Harmful Effects of Nursing Home Neglect in Michigan
Physical and psychological abuse are rampant problems in nursing homes throughout the United States, but perhaps equally damaging is the high prevalence of nursing home neglect. Nursing home residents who do not receive adequate care can suffer serious harm to their physical and mental health, and it is important for victims and their families to know that it is possible to take legal action to recover damages due to the negligence of a nursing home operator or employee.
What Is Nursing Home Neglect?
In general, nursing home neglect occurs when those responsible for caring for patients or residents fail to provide them with the necessary care, such as feeding, bathing, and providing medication and supervision. Nursing home neglect may be tied to a variety of causes. In some cases, individual staff members may fail to perform their care duties. However, neglect is often a symptom of problems on an organizational level. For example, nursing home management may fail to provide their employees with adequate training or supervision throughout the workday. In other cases, a nursing home may fail to provide the space or materials necessary for the quality care of its residents.
Consequences of Nursing Home Neglect
When compared with outright abuse, neglect toward nursing home residents can be more difficult to detect. However, resulting injuries and health effects can be just as severe. Some possible outcomes of nursing home neglect include:
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Malnutrition and dehydration due to a failure to provide a patient with sufficient food and water
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Bedsores, infections, and dental problems related to improper bathing, hygiene, and changing of bedding
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Fall injuries, exposure to environmental hazards, and contagious illnesses due to a lack of supervision or adequate space and health and safety precautions
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Deterioration of a patient’s condition due to improper medication
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Physical injuries due to abuse between residents when left unsupervised
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Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions related to a decreased quality of life
If you believe that you or your family member is suffering from neglect in a nursing home, you should work with an attorney who can help you gather evidence of negligence and determine the damages to which you may be entitled. It may be appropriate to file a lawsuit against both an individual employee and the nursing home as a whole, depending on the circumstances.
Contact a Kent County, MI Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer
Attorney John D. Tallman has the knowledge and experience necessary to help you hold a nursing home accountable for neglect and recover compensation that can improve the quality of life for you or your family member. For a free consultation, call a qualified and compassionate Grand Rapids nursing home abuse attorney today at 616-361-8850.
Sources:
https://ncea.acl.gov/About-Us/What-We-Do/Research/Statistics-and-Data.aspx
https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(as2argyqsxnzw445g5ruzxuv))/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-368-1978-17-217.pdf
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21253930/
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