4 Truths about Nursing Homes You May Not Know
Last Updated on June 3, 2022 by Kylie Morrison
Nursing homes house the elderly, terminally ill patients, disabled people, or other people who need assistance in their day-to-day lives. Nursing home facilities provide long-term care to the residents. Experienced caretakers look after the daily needs of the residents. For example, they provide residents with nutritious meals. Moreover, doctors, nurses, and other professionals are available on-site 24/7 to deal with any emergency or issues of the residents.
The baby boomer population in the US is aging rapidly. Therefore, the population of nursing homes is growing. However, abuse in nursing homes is a growing concern in America. There are different types of abuse that the residents of a nursing home face, like physical abuse, mental abuse, and financial abuse. However, emotional abuse is the most commonly reported type of abuse. Residents can face abuse from their caretaker, doctor, or the staff at the nursing home.
People often hesitate to report abuse at a nursing home due to various reasons. The victims already depend on their caretakers and think that reporting their abuse will be bad for them. Therefore, they stay silent. Moreover, family members often feel hesitant to report abuse because they worry about the safety of their loved ones. However, people should take a stand and report it to end this vicious cycle of abuse in nursing homes across America.
There is plenty of official data that proves the abuse happening in nursing homes despite the lack of reporting. Therefore, if you suspect that your loved one is facing abuse or getting neglected, you can take legal action against the nursing home. You can receive a certain amount of financial compensation from suing a nursing home, and you can ensure that the responsible people receive punishment. In this article, we are going to discuss some truths about nursing homes that you may not know.
Residents are often neglected in nursing homes
Negligence at a nursing home is not always intentional. However, it can be really damaging to the mental and physical health of your loved one. Some examples of neglect that residents of a nursing home suffer from include;
- Caretakers not following the safety standards
- Failure of the facility to provide residents with enough nutritious meals
- Housekeepers not cleaning the facility properly
- Ignorance of nurses towards health conditions like bedsores of patients
- Failure of the facility to provide immediate medical attention in case of an emergency
If you suspect neglect, you can file a nursing home negligence lawsuit against the nursing home. You will get your case reviewed by an attorney. Afterward, you will be asked to give the details of the neglect you or your loved one suffered. Your attorney files a lawsuit and helps you get financial compensation for negligence. The amount of financial compensation can vary based on your state. Moreover, each case is unique and qualifies for a different amount of monetary compensation. However, nursing home negligence lawsuits payout around $406,000 on average.
Most Nursing Home Owners Can’t be Sued
Most nursing homes are registered as limited liability corporations (LLC.), making it hard for people to sue the owners of the nursing homes. The majority of these LLCs spend a small amount of money on the health and care of each patient.
Registering a business as a limited liability corporation separates the owner and the business in some financial aspects. Therefore, the owner can’t be fully held responsible for any of the damages done by the business. However, you can personally sue the owner instead of filing a lawsuit against the nursing home for the neglect and abuse of your loved ones.
Elderly Abuse is Common in Nursing Homes
Abuse at nursing homes in America is a growing concern. Most culprits target the elderly because they find them to be easier prey. The elderly are physically weak and depend upon the nursing home staff for their basic needs. Therefore, they easily get manipulated and often hesitate to report their abuse. Moreover, the elderly with severe mental conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia are even more vulnerable to the abuse of the staff.
Sexual abuse in nursing homes is a disturbing and dark truth about these facilities. Most nursing homes prioritize their reputation and quietly fire the perpetrators instead of reporting or punishing them. Most of the culprits join another nursing home and repeat their abusive behavior. According to a CNN report, almost 1000 nursing homes have mishandled cases of elderly sexual abuse.
Mental, physical, emotional, and financial abuse is also quite common in nursing facilities. Some signs and symptoms like bruises, dehydration, bedsores, and more can help identify abuse in a nursing home. If you suspect that the elderly in a nursing home are facing abuse, immediately report it and take legal action.
Nursing Homes can be depressing
Most nursing home residents are the elderly who feel isolated from their family and friends. After moving to a nursing home, they need support and top-quality care from the nursing home staff. However, abusive staff members, provision of sub-quality care, lack of familiarity, and lack of enough staff members create a depressing environment for them. Elderly residents with mental issues like dementia particularly suffer in poorly managed nursing homes, and their health declines rapidly.
The elderly at a nursing home can also get depressed due to losing their sense of freedom. In a nursing home, there are set routines that all residents have to follow. Several elderly have their own preferences and feel suffocated following rules. Even though the set schedules are overall beneficial for the health and well-being of the elderly, the loss of independence can create feelings of depression.
The Wrap Up
People who need assistance in performing their day-to-day tasks reside in nursing homes. Nursing homes provide various benefits to their residents. However, there are some problems in the American nursing home industry, and these problems are growing at an alarming speed.
Nursing home neglect and abuse is a growing concern that has instilled fear in many people. You can take legal action against nursing home abuse or neglect. Nursing homeowners mostly register their business as an LLC to avoid getting blamed for a mishap at the nursing home. However, you can personally sue the owner to get justice. Poorly managed and understaffed nursing homes create a depressing environment for the residents. Lack of freedom is another reason that leads many residents to depression. Hopefully, this article will help you understand the truths about nursing homes you may not know.
