Catastrophic Injuries Can Occur from Lack of Supervision

 Posted on April 14, 2023 in Nursing Home Abuse

One of the primary responsibilities of any nursing home is to supervise nursing home residents and ensure their safety. Most nursing home residents have one, if not more, significant medical concerns. They may suffer from cognitive decline that makes them at risk for wandering or elopement from the facility, physical conditions that require round-the-clock care, or medical issues that increase the chances of falling or other accidents.

Unfortunately, understaffing is a frequent problem in nursing homes, and when there are not enough staff to provide adequate supervision, catastrophic injuries can occur. Residents may wander off the premises of the facility and sustain serious bodily harm or even death. They may fall without anyone noticing until it is too late, leading to a traumatic brain injury. Without appropriate observation, residents may suffer from malnutrition or dehydration. In extreme cases, unsupervised residents may even suffer physical and sexual abuse at the hands of staff or other residents.

Lack of Staff and Undertraining Increase the Risk of Catastrophic Injury and Death

Nursing homes are desperate for qualified staff. Research shows that nursing homes lost more than 14 percent of the workforce between February 2020 and July 2022, and this problem has not been rectified. Many nursing homes are making do with what they have, but fewer staff ultimately means fewer eyes and ears on vulnerable residents.

In addition, inadequate training of nursing home staff is a major factor when it comes to resident safety. Staff who are not properly trained may not be aware of the risks associated with certain medical conditions or have an understanding of how to prevent them from occurring. Without the right training, staff may be unable to recognize the signs of a fall or wandering and take proactive steps to prevent them.

Lack of Supervision Can Lead to Catastrophic Injury

Nursing homes must ensure that they are adequately staffed and that all of their staff have been trained in the proper safety protocols and procedures. Without proper supervision, nursing home residents are at an increased risk of catastrophic injury or death. Adequate staffing and training can help to reduce the chances of these unfortunate events happening, but if they do occur, it is important that nursing homes take responsibility for their negligence in providing appropriate care.

Contact our Cook County Nursing Home Injury Lawyers

At Schwartz Injury Law, we help nursing home residents and their families hold negligent nursing homes accountable for severe and catastrophic injuries. Our Chicago nursing home negligence attorneys can help you pursue justice for an injury caused by lack of supervision. Call 312-535-4625 to set up a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Press-Releases/Pages/Historic-Staffing-Shortages-Continue-To-Force-Nursing-Homes-To-Limit-New-Admissions,-Creating-Bottlenecks-at-Hospitals-and-.aspx