Protecting the Rights of Injured Nursing Home Residents
Connecticut has about 225 licensed nursing homes that can house approximately 26,800 residents. Private nursing home residents in our state pay about $151,200 per year - or $414 per day - and should expect top-quality care and facilities. Unfortunately, abuse and neglect at nursing homes are all too common and residents can suffer serious injuries as a result.
Nursing home injuries can happen for a variety of reasons, some of which involve intentional misconduct by employees. Older adults may be more susceptible to injury, less able to protect or defend themselves, and often require more treatment and a longer recovery period than others. Despite these risks, many nursing home injuries go unreported, especially in cases involving intentional assault or abuse.
If a nursing home calls to report that your loved one has been injured or you notice signs of possible neglect or abuse, you should contact an experienced Norwich nursing home injury law firm as soon as possible. We can help determine what caused the injury and whether your loved one has the right to hold the nursing home liable. If you suspect a nursing home provided negligent care, please call Polito & Harrington today to discuss the best course of action for you and your loved one.
Injuries Due to Negligence
Nursing homes have the duty to inspect and maintain the premises to make sure it is safe for residents, staff, and visitors. In addition, nursing homes are expected to follow all applicable regulations enforced by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. When a nursing home fails to abide by these duties, dangerous conditions and accidents often result.
Examples of negligence in nursing homes include:
- Failure to correct fall hazards or follow fall prevention protocols
- Negligent supervision and assistance of residents
- Improper food storage or preparation that causes food poisoning
- Negligent hiring of untrained or unqualified staff
- Negligent retention of staff members who do not provide adequate care
- Failure to repair or replace defective furniture or medical equipment
- Failure to provide inadequate security or monitoring of visitors that results in harm to residents
- Allowing potentially volatile residents unsupervised access to other residents
- Medication errors and other types of medical negligence
An attorney can help determine whether a nursing home fell below the required standard of care. If so, our legal team can help prove that the facility was negligent and seek compensation for all of the injury-related losses your loved one incurred. Just because an injury was not intentional does not mean that a nursing home should not be held responsible.
Injuries Due to Neglect and Abuse
On the other hand, some nursing home injuries are, sadly, the result of more severe misconduct on the part of the facility or staff members. Nursing home staff may neglect residents or may even intentionally abuse them and cause serious harm. Some examples of nursing home neglect include:
- Failure to provide rooms with adequate heat or air conditioning
- Unsanitary conditions
- Not keeping up with a resident’s hygiene
- Not providing adequate water or nutrition
- Failing to provide medical care when needed
- Not providing other types of care that may be needed for a particular resident
- Leaving a resident isolated in their room unnecessarily
Neglect can cause many types of injuries and health problems for nursing home residents. For example, if a resident is bedridden, he or she must be turned and moved on a regular basis. If staff neglects to do so, the resident can develop painful bedsores. If residents do not receive proper nutrition, they can experience weight loss—or sometimes weight gain—that can be dangerous to their health. When a resident is neglected, it can also take a toll on their mental health and emotional health.
Some nursing home residents experience conditions worse than mere neglect and suffer actual abuse. Examples of nursing home abuse include:
- Physical assaults - This can include pushing, striking, kicking, using pressure point holds, unnecessarily restraining residents, or any other type of intentional physical harm. Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to serious injuries as a result of physical abuse.
- Sexual abuse - Staff or other residents may sexually assault a nursing home resident. This can include unnecessarily exposing a resident, indecently exposing oneself to a resident, unwanted touching, and rape.
- Mental abuse - Nursing home abuse does not have to be physical to cause harm. Staff members may mentally and emotionally abuse a resident through constant criticisms, intimidation, belittling threats, and other verbal abuse. This can severely affect the mental and emotional health of a nursing home resident.
Standing Up for Victims of Nursing Home Injuries
Many injured nursing home residents fail to report their injuries, especially if they have cognitive deficiencies or are afraid of an abuser. You should always be on the watch for the signs of nursing home injuries, whether from negligence, neglect, or abuse. If you do suspect your loved one has been harmed, do not wait to contact our law office – his or her safety and well-being may depend on it. We stand up for the rights of nursing home residents and work to ensure your loved one is safe and recovers compensation for any injuries suffered due to nursing home abuse or neglect.
Contact a Norwich, CT Nursing Home Injuries Attorney to Discuss Your Claim
Pursuing a claim against a nursing home can be complex. Nursing homes and their insurers try to avoid liability for injuries whenever possible. Admitting fault can lead to civil penalties from the state, loss of licensure, or damage to a facility’s reputation. You need a law firm that knows how to fight against nursing homes and hold them accountable for neglect, abuse, and any injuries that resulted from negligence. Please call Polito & Harrington in Norwich today at 860-447-3300 or contact us online to set up your free consultation.