Nursing HomesNursing Home Injuries

Nursing homes agree to care for a vulnerable population that is unable to care for themselves. The residents and their families trust that their nursing home will follow recognized standards of care. Unfortunately, Nursing Home residents regularly suffer serious medical problems from medication errors, failure to follow or institute proper fall risk protocols, neglect leading to pressure ulcers or bedsores and catheter injuries.

Nursing homes assess and bill for the level of care provided to residents. Before a resident is admitted to the nursing home an assessment of that resident’s needs is made. This assessment typically will indicate whether a resident is a fall risk and if so what fall risk rules are to be followed by the caregivers at the facility. The medication needs of a patient are also assessed and a medication plan is often put into place. Residents may develop problems with swallowing. If a resident develops problems with swallowing the nursing home must review their medications to determine whether a resident’s medications may be crushed for administration. Some of these no crush medications are time released and the time released properties of the medication are ruined by crushing the pills. Other medications have protective coatings that are needed for the medication to safely pass the stomach. Nursing homes that fail to properly administer the medication to residents with trouble swallowing may cause serious side effects or render the medication ineffective.

The Bowie medical malpractice lawyers at Patterson Law offer free consultations to assess whether nursing home injuries may be due to malpractice.

Neglect of nursing home residents is upsetting and potentially fatal. Signs of neglect include dehydration, malnutrition, bed sores, poor hygiene, improper diabetic care and sepsis. If a loved one has developed sepsis, severe dehydration or bed sores immediate action should be taken to make sure their care is transferred to a competent caregiver. A medical and legal review of the nursing home care and records should also be considered. Proper nursing home care requires accountability. If nursing home facilities are not held to account for serious lapses in care for their vulnerable residents then poor care is likely to continue.

The medication needs of a patient are also assessed and a medication plan is often put into place. Residents may develop problems with swallowing. If a resident develops problems with swallowing the nursing home must review their medications to determine whether a resident’s medications may be crushed for administration. Some of these no crush medications are time released and the time released properties of the medication are ruined by crushing the pills.

Other medications have protective coatings that are needed for the medication to safely pass the stomach. Nursing homes that fail to properly administer the medication to residents with trouble swallowing may cause serious side effects or render the medication ineffective.