Nursing Home Understaffing

Cape Cod Attorneys Representing Elder Abuse Victims and Their Families

Nursing homes are expected to provide their residents with thorough and attentive care. Not all nursing homes are sufficiently staffed, however, and a failure to have an adequate amount of workers can greatly impact the level of care received by the very people nursing homes have been hired to assist. Nursing home understaffing creates a high risk of negligent or inadequate care, which can result in injuries such as bedsores or fractures to elderly residents. If your loved one suffered an illness or injury while residing in a nursing home, it may be due to understaffing, and you and your loved one may be entitled to compensation. At the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, our Cape Cod nursing home negligence lawyers have over 150 years of combined experience representing victims who have suffered injuries due to the misconduct of others. We will work diligently to pursue damages from the nursing home that failed to provide the staffing necessary to protect your loved one from injury or illness. Our seasoned attorneys have recovered several multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients.

Consequences of Understaffing In Nursing Homes

Nursing home understaffing can have a variety of dire consequences. When a nursing home does not have an appropriate number of personnel to tend to its residents, it increases the likelihood of neglect and abuse. It is more likely that medication will be administered improperly, and that residents will suffer dehydration and malnutrition. Falls are one of the greatest risks posed by insufficient staffing in a nursing home. If a resident is unable to safely walk or get out of bed without assistance and no one is present to help him or her, he or she may attempt to move unassisted and fall. Falls can result in serious injuries, such as fractures and traumatic brain injuries. If a resident is immobile they may suffer bedsores if there is insufficient staff to ensure he or she is moved on a regular basis. Additionally, abuse is more prevalent in nursing homes that are understaffed, as stressed and impatient workers may become too forceful with residents.

Nursing Home Liability

The level of care nursing homes are required to provide is defined by both state and federal law. One of the requirements imposed on nursing homes is that they must have a sufficient number of personnel to provide care and supervision for all residents. The personnel must also be trained and competent, and able to ensure the needs of the residents are met. To recover on a negligence claim against a nursing home you must show the nursing home failed to provide an appropriate level of care and the failure led to the illness or injury of your loved one. In negligence cases where the nursing home was inadequately staffed, proof that there were insufficient staff members to provide an appropriate level of care provides a strong argument that the nursing home negligently failed to adhere to the standard of care it was obligated to provide.

Discovery is an important part of the process of proving nursing home understaffing, and that the inadequate staffing led to your loved one’s harm. Your lawyer will likely request the personnel records detailing the number of people working, and the training and experience of the staff members, as well as logs regarding the care of your loved one, including when medication was administered, and records regarding grooming, hygiene, and food and water intake.

If you are successful in your negligence claim against a nursing home, you will likely be entitled to recover the cost of any medical treatment your loved one had to undergo, as well as compensation for his or her pain and suffering. The knowledge that your loved one has been provided inadequate care can be overwhelming, and the process of pursuing damages from the nursing home that provided inferior care can be complicated and confusing. If your loved one suffered an injury or illness due to inadequate care in a nursing home, it is in your best interest to retain an experienced attorney who understands nursing home negligence litigation to provide you with peace of mind that your case is being handled properly.

Meet With a Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer in Cape Cod

The attorneys at the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III have consistently obtained successful settlements and verdicts in nursing home negligence and abuse cases. We have the knowledge and experience required to uncover facts that will allow us to set forth a strong case in hopes of obtaining a favorable outcome. The product of our aggressive advocacy is our record of successful verdicts, with multiple verdicts in the millions. We represent clients in Cape Cod and offer consultations in Hyannis and Plymouth as well. Contact us at 888-262-6664 or via our online form to set up a consultation. Nós Falamos Português.