Why Does Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Occur?
Nursing home abuse and neglect are far more common than many of us would like to believe. Understanding the cause behind this epidemic is critical if we ever hope to reduce and eliminate its frequency of occurrence. If you believe your elderly loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse and neglect, it is imperative that you act quickly and seek skilled legal representation to ensure the responsible party is held liable.
Below is a list of factors that heavily contribute to the abuse and neglect
of senior adults in nursing homes:
- Understaffing: When facilities are overwhelmingly understaffed, this means nurses are
spread thin, making it near impossible for each resident to receive the proper care they need and deserve. Understaffing is one of the main causes of both neglect and abuse. Accidents, especially falls, are common under such circumstances, but can easily be prevented if the staff in a nursing home facility were to attend to each resident as is necessary. When looking for a nursing home for your elderly loved one, make sure you closely observe the ratio of patients to staff.
- Immobility or illness: Neglect and abuse are both dangerous to the health and wellbeing of nursing home residents. When an elderly resident is immobile or severely ill, they might not be adequately cared for, which can lead to the development of painful bedsores, decreased muscle tone, an increased risk of accidents, and the further loss of mobility.
- Stress and exhaustion: When nursing homes are understaffed, those who are left caring for the residents might begin to feel stressed, frustrated, and overworked. These feelings can lead to an increased risk of resident abuse. For example, a staff member who is stressed out might not be as attentive to the needs of the residents they are meant to care for. The harm that staff members cause might not even necessarily be intentional. In many cases, the neglect and injuries they inflict might occur inadvertently. That said, the more frustrated a caregiver is, the more likely it is that he or she will harm the elderly person intentionally.
Regardless of why nursing home abuse or neglect occurs, if you suspect your elderly loved one is suffering, you need to do what you can to put a stop to the abuse or neglect, and take legal action. Seek the assistance of a skilled personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Las Vegas
If your elderly loved one suffered abuse or neglect at the hands of nursing home staff, you need to obtain skilled legal counsel to pursue the fair and just compensation your family deserves during this difficult time. At Shook & Stone in Las Vegas, our experienced team of personal injury attorneys is dedicated to fighting on behalf of the wrongfully injured and will do what is necessary to ensure the responsible party is held accountable for their actions.