The Most Common Instances Of Nursing Home Wrongdoing
27 Jul 2007
More lawsuits are being filed against nursing homes as reported instances of neglect are increasing every year. Some states, such as Florida, have strong statutes to protect the rights of nursing home residents by creating civil remedies where none or barely none existed. These are sometimes called a Bill of Rights. Other states have simply expanded the existing common law civil remedies to permit greater recoveries by the unfortunate victims of poorly operated facilities.
Nursing home residents (and sometimes their families) are hiring experienced attorneys to seek compensation and justice for the neglect and abuse that occurs all too often. Verdicts, sometimes of impressive size, are being returned by juries who see a need to compel better treatment of the elderly.
The most common factual settings of nursing home wrongdoing are the following:
- Bedsores
- Falls
- Abuse (sexual or physical)
- "Walkaways" (residents wandering off premises due to lack of proper supervision and security)
- Medication errors
The consequences of any of these circumstances can be devastating for the elderly and frail nursing home resident. In each instance, death or serious injury or illness could be the result.
Ironically, the primary reason for residence in a nursing home facility is to assure that none of these circumstances will occur.
