When we place a loved one in a nursing home or other long-term care facility, we expect that staff and administration will do everything in their power to protect them from harm. It is a shocking betrayal of trust to learn a family member has been neglected or mistreated in a facility. By better understanding the root causes of nursing home negligence, we can take steps toward reducing the harm it inflicts on our most vulnerable loved ones.
Staffing shortages
One of the root causes of nursing home negligence is inadequate staffing. When there are too few staff members to provide adequate care, residents suffer. Staffing shortages often result in failures in feeding, lapses in hygienic care and even medication errors. Malnutrition, dehydration, falls and other dangers are more likely to occur in an environment that does not have enough staff members.
Lack of training
Providing care to a nursing home resident is not something that just comes naturally. Even commonplace activities like helping a resident off of a wheelchair require strict adherence to safety protocols. Bathing, feeding, ambulation and other activities are no less critical. When the administration fails to provide staff members with adequate training in these procedures, it places residents at risk.
Failures in screening
Employment screening processes are critical in a nursing home. When background checks and other measures fail to identify potentially dangerous individuals, facilities hire unfit people who go on to gain intimate access to vulnerable elders. All too often, these failures in screening lead to assault, abuse, theft and other illegal acts.
Legal help for victims and their families
We all want fewer people to suffer in nursing homes, but sadly, negligence and abuse persist in facilities in Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico. If your loved one has suffered abuse or neglect, consult with an attorney who has experience handling these complex and sensitive claims.
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