Neglect is the failure on the part of a caregiver to provide the care, supervision, and services necessary to maintain the health of a resident. This failure does not have to be intentional for it to be considered negligent. Nursing home staff negligence is serious and can result in a resident suffering physical harm, illness, and over time, even death.
Neglect in Wesley Chapel nursing homes is all too common. If you suspect that your family member is being ignored or neglected by the caregivers at their assisted living facility, do not delay in reaching out to one of the aggressive nursing home abuse attorneys at our firm.
Some of the most common examples of neglect that our attorneys see in Wesley Chapel nursing homes include staff failing to:
Properly supervise residents, which can lead to them eloping, or leaving the facility without someone accompanying them
Administer medications when needed
Turn or reposition residents leading to pressure sores
Report signs of infections or illnesses to doctors
Clean a resident’s room or common area
Ensure a resident’s personal hygiene by changing them or bathing them regularly
Identify a pattern of falling leading to a resident suffering a fractured bone, head trauma, or other catastrophic injury
Follow a treatment plan for a resident that has difficulty swallowing leading to a resident choking on their food
Scenarios That Can Lead to Neglect in Assisted Living Facilities
The overwhelming scenario that leads to neglect in most Wesley Chapel nursing homes involves understaffing and having poorly trained staff members. Understaffing occurs because management wants to make a profit and the cost of staff is generally the highest expense in a long-term care facility. There is nothing wrong with making a profit, but some facilities purposely provide less staff than is needed to care for residents in order to maximize their profits. When this happens, nursing home staff often unintentionally neglect residents because they simply do not have the capacity to care for everyone they are assigned to.
Similarly, when management is not training staff members properly, neglect will occur due to staff inexperience and lack of knowledge. In either situation, a skilled attorney from Distasio Law Firm could fight to hold the nursing home administration accountable for their negligence.
Types of Residents Especially Vulnerable to the Consequences of Neglect
The types of patients that are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of neglect are dementia patients, bedridden residents, and patients at the end of their life. Dementia residents are more susceptible because they do not always understand what is going on around them and, as a result, are not able to care for themselves. Bedridden residents and end of life patients similarly are not able to care for themselves.
Even though nursing homes are specifically meant to care for these kinds of vulnerable people—when the facility is understaffed—often these types of patients are the first to end up suffering the consequences of neglect.
Steps to Take if Your Loved One Is Being Neglected
If your elderly family member is being neglected by their caretaker, the first thing you need to do is make sure your loved one is safe. That may mean safe in the facility, or it could mean removing them from the facility and finding a safer place for them. Once that is accomplished, the next thing you should do is to report the conduct to the state Agency for Health Care Administration, the Adult Protective Services central abuse hotline, and if the conduct is criminal, to local law enforcement.
Once all those things are done, call an experienced nursing home neglect attorney in Wesley Chapel. A capable and aggressive legal professional like Scott Distasio could help by engaging in a detailed investigation, ordering medical records, hiring expert witnesses, and doing everything in his power to hold the facility accountable for their wrongdoing.
A Dedicated Attorney Can Help You Hold At-Fault Parties Accountable for Neglect in Wesley Chapel Nursing Homes
Assisted living facilities are meant to provide safety and care for the most vulnerable population of people. Sadly, these facilities are frequently understaffed and fail to give each and every resident the attention and personalized care they need and deserve.
Our committed legal professionals are prepared to fight on behalf of those who experience neglect in Wesley Chapel nursing homes. If you or your loved one suffered harm due to a caretaker’s negligence, call us today.
