Nursing Home Lawsuits

These types of lawsuits are generally the worst sort, when the trust given to care for a loved one is breached and your loved one is abused or neglected of care when they need it the most. Fortunately there are a substantial number or laws and regulations that cover the residents of these nursing homes and ensuring their rights.

Nursing home lawsuits can include acts such as psychosocial, mental, physical abuse along with financial damages that may be sustained by any resident of a nursing home when the duty of care is with the administration of the nursing home. Although it is impossible to undo the damage or injury that is done, financial claims can ease the burden and help victims recover easier.

The unfortunate facts are that nursing home malpractice is rampant in the US and is a significant problem that isn’t getting as much attention and it should. Comprehensive studies by the US government estimates that as much as one third of all nursing homes have committed intentional or negligent acts to their residents and in-turn have cause unnecessary harm to them.

Another study by a separate organization revealed that during 2004, 4000 deaths could have been avoided in nursing homes. These deaths came from dehydration, malnutrition and bedsores, all of which can easily be remedied. Another alarming study revealed that as many as half of all nursing home residents suffer from untreated pain.

As these and many other reports have come to light, the government has taken a strong stand on making nursing homes in the US safer places. The federal government has attempted to regulate the nursing industry with stricter laws and regulations that increases the minimum requirement of care that every institution must meet or exceed. Periodically state agencies also conduct random visits to nursing homes and have power to order corrective actions to be taken and even (in some state) revoke the permit to have run a nursing home.

Additional efforts to increase the level of care country wide is to set up hotlines and complaints departments where the public can report any potential lapses in care to the authorities. These complaints can be made by anyone and can be about any deficiency that may exist in their duty of care.

If there is obvious negligence to anyone in your family that is in the care of nursing homes then you would do best by calling on the services of experienced personal injury lawyers and seek advice on how to go forward. Most negligence cases must abide by the statute of limitations thus it is in your best interest to launch your claims process as soon as possible.