Nursing Home Resident Infections: Holding Negligent Nursing Homes Accountable

 Posted on January 10, 2022 in Nursing Home Neglect

Individuals in nursing homes are often elderly and in poor health. They may have cognitive issues including Alzheimer’s disease, physical disabilities, and chronic health concerns. Nursing home staff have a legal duty to provide adequate supervision, assistance, and care to nursing home residents. When nursing home staff fail to provide the care residents need, residents can suffer potentially deadly medical conditions as a result.

Infections are especially dangerous in nursing homes. An undiagnosed infection may spread throughout the resident’s body and even develop into sepsis. If your loved one suffered medical problems or passed away from an infection due to substandard care at a nursing home, you may be able to seek justice through a nursing home injury claim.

Infections Can Cause Severe and Deadly Health Consequences

Healthy bodies can usually fight off an infection. However, nursing home residents’ bodies are already frail. Infections that are not properly addressed can escalate quickly. Some of the most common infections in nursing homes including urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, and infections of the skin.

Nursing home staff should always monitor residents for signs of infection. For example, if a resident has a bedsore, it must be carefully monitored and regularly cleaned. Failure to check the wound and apply clean dressings can cause the wound to become infected. This infection can spread to other areas of the body.

Seeking Justice for a Loved One Harmed by Nursing Home Negligence

Understaffing, inadequate staff training, unsanitary conditions, and a myriad of other factors can cause a resident to suffer an otherwise preventable infection. This type of nursing home negligence is unacceptable. If your loved one was injured or killed due to substandard care at a nursing home, you may be able to hold the facility accountable through a nursing home injury claim or nursing home wrongful death claim. You and/or your loved one may be entitled to damages in the form of financial compensation.

Damages in a nursing home negligence claim may include:

• The cost of additional medical treatment
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional pain and suffering
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Punitive damages (in rare cases)

Contact a Springfield Personal Injury Lawyer

Nursing home infections that are not dealt with appropriately can quickly worsen, causing painful and potentially deadly medical problems. If your loved one was harmed or killed due to negligent care at a nursing home, contact Kanoski Bresney for help. Our Champaign nursing home injury attorneys can provide the legal guidance and representation you need. Call 888-826-8682 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3526889/