What Can I Do If My Loved One Was Harmed by Insufficient Medical Care in a Nursing Home?

 Posted on October 21, 2020 in Neglect

Nursing homes have a legal duty to provide reasonably skilled care to residents. They are expected to help the residents with personal hygiene, meal times, and everyday tasks. Nursing home staff are also expected to provide competent medical care. This may include administering medication, recognizing the signs and symptoms of illnesses, caring for injuries, and more. If a resident suffers a health concern that the nursing home staff are not equipped to deal with, staff should arrange for the resident to receive the medical care he or she needs through other means. Failure to provide medical care may lead to a nursing home neglect and abuse claim.  

Understaffing Can Lead to Inadequate Medical Care

Nursing home staff typically consists of nurses, certified nursing assistants, physical therapists, dieticians, administrative employees, and support employees such as custodians. Federal law mandates that a registered nurse be on duty at least eight hours each day, seven days a week. At least one licensed nurse must be on duty 24 hours a day. There should also be enough additional staff such as nurse aides to ensure that residents are properly cared for. 

Unfortunately, understaffing is a major problem in Illinois nursing homes and facilities across the country. When there are not enough staff, residents may suffer from insufficient medical care including:

• Failure to recognize and treat medical concerns such as infections and illnesses
• Failure to prevent and properly address bedsores
• Missed medication and other medication mistakes
• Failure to obtain specialized care for residents who require specific treatment

Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuits

Insufficient medical care can lead to avoidable pain, new and worsening medical conditions, and even resident death. If you or a loved one has suffered from a lack of medical attention while living in a nursing home, you may be curious about your legal options. A nursing home negligence claim may enable you to hold the nursing home responsible for the pain and suffering you or your loved one experienced. You may also be able to receive financial compensation for expenses resulting from the negligent care such as medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, and more.

Contact a Chicago, Illinois Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

At Schwartz Injury Law, we help individuals who have been harmed by nursing home neglect and abuse hold negligent nursing homes accountable. We also fight to get our clients the financial compensation they need and deserve. To learn more, schedule a free, no-obligation case consultation with one of our dedicated Cook County nursing home injury attorneys. Call us today at 312-535-4625.

Source:

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=e3979b25f8d8b29c78b1b3f6c66dbdaa&rgn=div5&view=text&node=42:5.0.1.1.2&idno=42