Most Common Problems in Nursing Homes
Most Common Problems in Nursing Homes Shared by Our Portland Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
Nursing homes are important places. They help care for our loved ones when we are no longer able to effectively care for our loved ones at home. This is a difficult decision to have to make, but unfortunately placing a loved one into a nursing home can be a necessary decision. While most nursing homes are good facilities which properly care for our loved ones, there are many possible problems that could occur in nursing homes. These problems occur far more often than they are identified too, making bad nursing homes dangerous places. The most common problems in nursing homes are also the most dangerous and potentially deadly ones. Our Portland nursing home abuse lawyers share these common problems and why they could result in serious issues in nursing homes.
Understanding the Most Common Problem: Understaffing
The salaries of staff are the most expensive parts of nursing homes. This is because staffing salaries are large and require other benefits such as health insurance, workers’ compensation coverage, and other additional expenses that a business must pay. Thus, many nursing homes try to cut costs by having less staffing. When there is less staffing there is less expense for a facility to spend to operate. This increases their bottomline and allows nursing homes to make a lot of extra money.
But inadequate staffing in a nursing home is a dangerous problem. In fact, it can be a really fatal mistake too. This is because inadequate staffing can result in less care and attention to residents, mistakes in providers rushing, and a lack of supervision for residents. This can allow residents to wander or elope, allow for abuse to occur, and result in a deterioration of nursing homes. Understaffing is usually just the tip of the iceberg, and there are also more common problems that occur.
Pressure Sores: Easily Prevented But Commonly Forgotten
Pressure sores are when there is prolonged pressure, friction, abrasion, and force on a part fo the body. This can result in a breakdown of that tissue. The longer that the tissue is allowed to breakdown, the longer that the pressure sore will cause damage. This damage can become life-threatening, including resulting in sepsis which is a medical emergency.
Despite these horrors, pressure sores can easily be prevented if a healthcare provider properly monitors a resident. This includes rotating a resident in a bed or wheelchair, checking for injuries, getting residents to stretch, and ensuring the nursing home supplies the most at-risk residents with the proper bedding and wheelchairs to avoid pressure sores.
Other Common Problems in Nursing Homes
Besides staffing issues and pressure sores, the most common problems in nursing homes include the following:
- Overdose of medication
- Medication mixups
- Sexual assaults
- Physical abuse
- Financial exploitation
- Psychological or emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Slip and falls/trip and falls
- Improper cleaning of the facility
- Not controlling infectious disease in a facility
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- Clogged breathing tubes
- Wandering or fall risk patients being left alone, and
- Many other common causes.
Did a Loved One Suffer Serious Injury in an Oregon Nursing Home? We Can Help
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect contact the Oregon Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take Nursing Home Abuse cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.