Search Results

Five nursing homes have been identified as the worst nursing homes in Alabama. These nursing homes were placed on the August 30, 2023, Center for Medicare & Medicaid’s Special Focus Facility Candidate List: Atalla Health and Rehab (Atalla) Diversicare of Foley (Foley) NHC Healthcare (Moulton) Oak Knoll Health and Rehabilitation (Birmingham) Signature Healthcare of Whitesburg Gardens (Huntsville) CMS and State Agencies (SAs) inspect nursing homes regularly to determine if they are providing the quality of care that Medicare and Medicaid require to protect and improve residents’ health and safety. When nursing homes do not meet CMS’ health care standards, these instances are cited as deficiencies, and the problems must be corrected. Most nursing homes have some deficiencies, with an average of six to seven per standard health inspection. However, some nursing homes have: More problems than other nursing homes (about twice the average number of deficiencies), More serious problems than most other nursing homes (including harm or injury experienced by residents) and A pattern of serious problems that have persisted over a long period. To address nursing homes with repeated cycles of serious deficiencies, CMS operates a Special Focus Facility Program. The five Alabama facilities were recently identified as candidates for this program. For a full list of nursing homes, visit https://www.cms.gov/medicare/provider-enrollment-and-certification/certificationandcomplianc/downloads/sfflist.pdf.

Residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities are more susceptible to infections and sepsis for many reasons. These older individuals already generally have less robust immune systems due to advanced age, many different negative health conditions, loss of appetite, and dependence on multiple medications. Furthermore, they live in close quarters in a group setting where infections, such as the flu, can easily spread. Many are also subject to feeding tubes, IVs, catheters, and medication ports on their bodies that can become infected without proper hygiene and care from staff. Unfortunately, infections are common in nursing homes and elder care facilities. When not properly treated, these infections can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition. These facilities owe you and your loved one a duty of care. When negligence or abuse occurs, that duty is breached, and they can be found liable. At Sawyer Law Firm, we have a long history of holding these facilities accountable through claims and lawsuits when they have victimized residents through neglect or abuse. Has your loved one suffered an infection or sepsis in a nursing home setting? Talk to our experienced attorney in Montgomery in a free consultation to determine the merits of your case and options. Contact us online or at (334) 539-0604. Common Nursing Home Infections Because of their weaker immune systems, the elderly have a much more difficult time fighting off infections. They may suffer much worse symptoms than younger people and take much longer to recover while requiring competent medical care. Common infections of the elderly can include but are not limited to: Respiratory infections Infected bedsores Urinary tract infections Skin infections Gastrointestinal infections Influenza Strep throat infections Infections in nursing homes can be caused by neglect or poor care at the hands of staff. This negligence can include improper hygiene provided to residents, lack of hand washing by staff, poor cleaning or sanitation of the facility, improper food preparation, improper insertion or maintenance of medical devices from feeding tubes to IVs, and more. These facilities can fail to immediately respond to resident infections through proper medical care. They may also fail to isolate infected individuals from others, causing the unnecessary spread of the infection. Sepsis in Nursing Home Patients When an infection is not treated properly and swiftly, it can lead to sepsis, which is potentially life-threatening. Sepsis is caused by your body’s extreme reaction to infection through a chemical chain reaction triggered to fight back. Those most at risk for sepsis are the elderly, those with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, lung conditions, and more and anyone with a weakened immune system. Sepsis can lead to organ failure, tissue damage, and death. It often results in extremely low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, chills and fever, clammy skin, and severe discomfort. Sepsis is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

Malnutrition and dehydration are common problems for residents of poorly managed or understaffed nursing homes and assisted living facilities. As people age, their appetites often become reduced, and, the less they consume nutritious food, the weaker and less able they become to do so. Medications can also interfere with appetite and willingness to intake both food and water which can also lead to malnutrition and dehydration. As a result, weight loss can occur, physical weakness can increase, and health complications can ensue. Nursing Home Feeding Guidelines Proper nutrition and fluid intake for residents is the responsibility of caretakers in nursing homes and other elder care facilities. Where these facilities fail in this matter, whether from understaffing or other forms of mismanagement, residents suffer. This is a form of negligence that must be addressed. At Sawyer Law Firm, nursing home abuse attorney JP Sawyer can provide the legal assistance and remedies you need to hold negligent facilities accountable through claims and lawsuits. Our firm has sought and obtained justice for many families throughout Montgomery and the state of Alabama whose loved ones have wrongfully suffered abuse or neglect as residents of care facilities. Let a Montgomery malnutrition attorney review your nursing home case and legal options in a free consultation. Contact us online or at (334) 539-0604. Nursing Home Malnutrition Malnutrition in nursing homes and care facilities can occur in many ways. Staff can fail to monitor or supervise the intake of food for residents. These residents often suffer malnutrition because they cannot properly feed themselves, experience depression, and chronic pain, suffer from the side effects of prescribed medicines, including anti-depressants and other antipsychotics, or are served bland, unappealing, improperly cooked, or lukewarm meals. In some cases, the food lacks proper nutritional value. Nursing Home Not Feeding Patients Residents who require assistance with eating can be served meals and then left to their own devices. Unfortunately, this commonly results in food being untouched and removed, leaving the resident without sufficient nutrition. These residents may be too embarrassed to ask for help, may have dementia and be unable to communicate properly, or be overmedicated to the point where they are barely functional. Other problems can occur by feeding residents foods they cannot tolerate or that may be dangerous to their health. Additionally, mistakes and problems can occur for residents who need feeding tubes. These mistakes can include improper insertion of the tube or wrong methods of feeding. Signs of Nursing Home Care Malnutrition Aside from weight loss, malnutrition can manifest in many ways, including: Fatigue and lethargy Bone loss Muscle loss Organ deterioration Memory loss and cognitive function deterioration Dizziness and light-headedness Confusion Swollen abdomen Dehydration is equally dangerous and can result in serious health problems from migraines and headaches to dizziness, fatigue, physical weakness, and more.

Medication errors in assisted living facilities and nursing homes can lead to serious, even life-threatening repercussions for residents and their families. Almost every patient or resident in these facilities requires some type of medication. For many, multiple medications need to be administered daily. Where mistakes are made, such as skipping required doses or overdosing, the consequences can be a significant reduction in the management of a disease or health condition or increased and serious side effects. In poorly managed facilities where staff are poorly trained or understaffed, mistakes can occur leading to health deterioration and injuries to dependent residents. Holding negligent assisted living facilities and nursing homes accountable for any harm done to their residents is a difficult proposition. These cases call for the knowledge and skills of an attorney who is experienced in them. Attorney JP Sawyer devotes most of his practice to protecting the rights, health, and safety of the elderly residing in these facilities. We bring decades of experience, tenacity, and care to the individuals we represent and their families in and around Montgomery and throughout Alabama. Reach out to Sawyer Law Firm online or at (334) 539-0604 for a free case review to learn your options and how we can help. Medication Errors Examples (H2) Residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities commonly have such health conditions as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, Parkinson’s, dementia, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, osteoporosis, and more. These individuals are often on many medications to control these conditions and depend on staff to administer them. Where carelessness occurs by staff, medication errors can occur, including: Forgetting a medication Administering the wrong dosage Administering a wrong medication Overmedication These errors may be unintentional yet have serious effects on the individual’s health. This could be considered unintentional abuse but is still illegal. Abuse of Sedatives, Anti-Depressants, or Anti-Psychotic Medications In other cases, however, residents in these facilities may be purposely overdosed in what is known as “chemical restraint” to keep them docile and under control. This is done by giving the resident higher amounts of prescribed drugs or giving them unprescribed drugs, such as sedatives, anti-depressants, or anti-psychotic drugs designed to subdue them and make them more manageable. This is often done to residents with dementia. These individuals often have “behavioral problems,” such as wandering, resisting care, or “crying,” according to a report made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The report states that more than 80 percent of “atypical antipsychotic drug claims” were for elderly nursing home residents who had not been diagnosed with a condition for which these drugs were FDA-approved. Unfortunately, these drugs become a substitute for proper care, social activities, and other programs that can foster better mental and emotional health for these residents. They lead to a serious reduction in quality of life, decreased consciousness, and, in the worst cases, can lead to eventual decline and death. According to Human Rights Watch, antipsychotic drug abuse in nursing homes is rampant and doubles the risk of death in those with dementia.

Nursing Home Falls Statistics According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of people aged 65 and above experience falls every year. This translates to more than one out of four in this age group. These falls are often preventable. In nursing homes and assisted living facilities, these potentially injurious incidents could indicate neglect by staff whose job is to care for and assist the elderly. Nursing Home Falls Prevention With proper training, monitoring, and supervision of residents by staff, falls and the injuries they inflict on vulnerable individuals could be reduced or potentially eliminated. Are nursing homes liable for falls? If you believe your loved one has suffered a fall due to the neglect of the nursing home or assisted living staff, you can discuss your suspicions and concerns with Montgomery falls lawyer J.P. Sawyer. When you entrust the health and safety of your loved one to one of these facilities, you expect that trust to be honored. Unfortunately, neglect and abuse in such facilities are known healthcare issues in the U.S. Our firm takes these cases very seriously and, where mistreatment or negligence causes harm to vulnerable residents, we take aggressive legal action to hold offenders accountable. Has your loved one suffered a fall in a nursing home or assisted living facility? Book a free consultation with Montgomery attorney J.P. Sawyer by calling (334) 539-0604 or contacting us online. Where do most falls occur in nursing homes? According to the CDC, broken bones or other injuries are the result of one out of every five falls in the U.S. These lead to 3 million older individuals requiring treatment in emergency rooms. The elderly is more susceptible to falls due to their advancing physical weakness, loss of balance, and use of medications that can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and other problems. Aside from physical weakness, medications, and balance issues, falls in nursing homes often occur when a resident is being transferred from a bed to a wheelchair, walker, or toilet. Assisting these individuals out of bed without proper strength, training, or experience a staff person can lead to accidents. Other causes of falls in these facilities can be slippery floors, loose rugs, uneven floors, raised thresholds, and electrical cords or wires. Nursing Home Fall Injuries Difficulties with walking and balance are a known risk for the elderly as evidenced by medical organizations and healthcare agencies, such as Medicare. When these individuals do fall, it can lead to serious injuries, especially when they are on blood thinners that can cause excessive bleeding. Hip fractures are a common result of falls that require surgery, hospitalization, and long recovery times for the elderly. At least 300,000 older people require hospitalization for hip fractures of which over 95 percent are caused by falls. Additionally, traumatic brain injuries are mostly caused by falls. After such falls, an older person’s overall physical strength is often greatly diminished. In the worst cases, they may never fully recover from fractures or head injuries incurred by falls. They may suffer a loss of mobility and independence as well as chronic pain, deteriorated cognitive abilities, depression, and more.

Unfortunately, nursing homes are not unique in the occurrence of elder abuse and neglect. Reports of neglect and abuse by staff at assisted living facilities have also become a national healthcare issue. These reports include similar issues as nursing home mistreatment, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse as well as neglect and financial exploitation. Estimates of the mistreatment of the elderly living in these facilities range between four and five percent. However, the percentages may likely be higher due to many incidents that go unreported. How To Report Abuse in Assisted Living Facility When you suspect any type of maltreatment at an assisted living facility, you should document the evidence wherever possible and report your concerns to the management. If you have a loved one who resides in an assisted living facility and you suspect that he or she has been subjected to some type of mistreatment, Sawyer Law Firm can help. Our firm focuses primarily on protecting the rights, safety, and health of our most vulnerable citizens. We want to listen to your story, inform you of your options, and take whatever legal action is necessary to hold negligent or abusive individuals accountable. We have assisted clients all over the state of Alabama in seeking justice for the harm done to their loved ones. Contact Montgomery assisted living abuse lawyer J.P. Sawyer at (334) 539-0604 or online for a free case evaluation. Assisted Living Abuse Cases Assisted living facilities differ from nursing homes in that they do not provide medical care for residents. As their name suggests, these facilities provide daily living assistance for older individuals who are generally mobile, in good health, and who do not need skilled nursing care. Residents of assisted living facilities may need help with dressing themselves, walking, personal hygiene, eating, or taking prescribed medications. Just because their services are limited to this does not mean these facilities are not subject to state and federal laws and regulations. As stated above, residents of these facilities are just as much at risk for abuse and neglect as those residing in skilled nursing homes. Examples of assisted living abuse by staff in these facilities can include but are not limited to: Verbal abuse. This can include belittlement, insults, ridicule, yelling, cursing, the use of scare tactics, and refusal to communicate. Physical abuse. This can include slaps, pinching, physical isolation, and more. Emotional abuse. This can include threats, constant criticism, blame, scapegoating, the use of profane language, rejection, and gaslighting. Sexual abuse. This can range from unwanted touching to sexual assault. Financial abuse. This can range from theft of cash, personal items, checkbooks, and credit card to identity theft, coercion into transferring assets, making a new will, or otherwise asserting undue influence over the resident’s assets. Neglect. Residents in nursing homes can be subject to neglect as well, leading to poor hygiene, dehydration, malnutrition, deteriorating health, new medical conditions, and medical emergencies.

Unfortunately, dementia is a condition that commonly accompanies advanced age. According to the National Institute of Health, dementia affects about 3.4 million or more individuals in the U.S. Dementia increases with age, with those reaching 90 and above comprising the greatest number. It is also recognized by most medical associations that individuals with dementia pose a higher risk for abuse and neglect in nursing homes and dementia care units due to their impaired ability to think, remember, communicate, or reason. This can make them vulnerable targets for unscrupulous caregivers and care unit staff. If you have a loved one whom you believe has suffered some type of abuse or neglect, you should speak with a Montgomery dementia care unit attorney who is experienced in this practice area. At Sawyer Law Firm, attorney J.P. Sawyer has focused most of his practice on elder abuse and neglect in all kinds of facilities and care homes. Our firm is dedicated to righting the wrongs and seeking justice for these vulnerable individuals and their families who have been harmed by others charged with their care. Has your loved one been neglected or abused in a dementia care unit? Get a free consultation with Montgomery nursing home abuse attorney J.P. Sawyer by contacting us online or at (334) 539-0604. Abuse & Neglect in Dementia Care Units Dementia is not a disease, but a term used to describe older individuals who develop cognitive problems as they age. Determining if your loved one has been abused or neglected in a dementia care unit can be complicated because of the above manifestations. Because those suffering from dementia cannot easily differentiate between the present and the past or between the real and the imagined, it can be difficult to discern the truth. However, in many cases, those with dementia are taken advantage of for these very reasons by untrustworthy individuals. Furthermore, dementia patients may not report any wrongdoing because they don’t remember it, don’t have the awareness to know that it is happening, or fear no one will believe them. Dementia can consist of: Short-term and long-term memory loss Difficulty communicating Difficulty solving problems or making decisions Difficulties with the ability to think Impaired judgment Difficulty doing familiar tasks Time and space disorientation Misplacing items Inappropriate emotional reactions, such as antagonism and anger Paranoia Delusions The best way to discover or prevent your loved one from being the victim of abuse or neglect in a dementia care unit or facility is to maintain close observation and understand the signs that would point to such behavior by staff and others. These signs can indicate physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse. They range from malnutrition and dehydration to bruising, broken bones, bedsores, unexplained emotional responses to caregivers indicators of overmedication, restraint, depression, and more. Where possible, it is vital to document such abuse or neglect with photos and other evidence.

Montgomery Bedsores Lawyers Bedsores often develop in nursing home residents due to neglect. These injuries are common and are a result of a resident remaining in the same position for long periods of time. This generally occurs in residents confined to wheelchairs or their beds. Bedsores are also referred to as pressure ulcers, pressure sores, and pressure injuries. Without proper treatment, these sores can become infected and lead to serious medical problems for these elderly adults. If your loved one has developed bedsores in a nursing home or other elder-care facility, contact Montgomery bedsores lawyer J.P. Sawyer, at (334) 539-0604 for a free consultation about your case. We accept calls from all over the U.S. for nursing home cases. Our mission is to fight for your loved one’s right to proper care and treatment when confined to these facilities. We devote a large portion of our practice to nursing home abuse and neglect, and we put personalized service, compassion for clients, and more than 25 years of legal experience in this field on your side in seeking remedies for neglected residents and their families. What are bedsores? According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, bedsores commonly occur in individuals who are “immobile, unconscious, or unable to sense pain.” Where do bedsores occur? These sores occur on areas of the skin that are in pressure contact with the bed or wheelchair, such as on the heels, butt, shoulders, back of the head, knees, and elbows. If the individual is not turned or re-positioned on a regular basis, given adequate nutrition, and skin care, these injuries can develop. In the worst cases, they can lead to infection and even sepsis, which is a life-threatening condition that can result in organ failure and even death. Bedsores can also extend deeply under the skin, into muscle and bone. They often heal only slowly. In some cases, depending on whether the person has a disease, the healing process can take days, months, or years. Are bedsores painful? When bedsores become infected, they can cause fever, chills, overall weakness, and mental confusion. Are bedsores preventable? To prevent bedsores, staff in nursing homes need to pay attention to the skin areas most affected by immobility, provide the person with healthy food, and keep the skin clean and dry. The individuals most prone to bedsores should also be given some type of movement or exercise, if possible, to keep their blood flowing.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A bill to establish a statewide registry for those people who have abused or taken advantage of the elderly was approved on a 101-0 vote in the Alabama House on Wednesday. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Victor Gaston, R- Mobile, along with several bipartisan cosponsors, would require the Alabama Department of Human Resources to create the Alabama Elder and Adult in Need of Protective Services Abuse Registry that will include the names of people convicted of various crimes against the elderly or “the individual has been found by the Alabama Department of Human Resources to have committed an act of abuse, elder abuse, emotional abuse, exploitation, financial exploitation, intimidation, neglect, sexual abuse, or undue influence against an elderly person or an adult in need of protective services.” The bill would require healthcare providers to check the registry before hiring prospective employees. The registry would be similar to the existing Central Registry on Child Abuse and Neglect, which is used to protect children from individuals found to be responsible for child abuse, neglect and exploitation. “We believe the registry will be a powerful tool that will enhance DHR’s ability, as well as the ability of other entities in protection and caregiving roles, to prevent known abusers from preying on additional victims,” Dominic Binkley, a spokesman for DHR, said recently. “A resource like this is especially important given the continued growth in the elderly population.” A Senate version, Senate Bill 169 by Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The bill is personal to Rep. Gaston. “When all of our times come to be taken care of, as my (late wife) Jean’s did years ago, we want to make sure people are lucky like she was in getting the proper care they deserve,” Gaston said. The House bill requires health care providers and caregivers to report suspected abuse by nursing home employees to DHR or local law enforcement. Failure to do so would be a Class C misdemeanor. Alabama AARP requested that the registry be made available to more than 760,000 family caregivers in Alabama that rely on hired individuals for assistance. “AARP believes this bill is a strong step forward in the fight against elder abuse and exploitation,” Harding said. “This legislation would provide Alabama’s care providers with additional information to make informed decisions when hiring staff. Attorney J.P. Sawyer, who represents individuals who have been abused and neglected in nursing homes, welcomes the bill “as it just makes common sense.” “Elderly individuals are just as helpless as children when it comes to abuse, and there is currently no mechanism to track the abusers or ensure that they are banned from providing care.” “This bill will fill in that gap,” Sawyer said.

Sawyer Law Firm has filed a lawsuit against Brookdale Senior Living Communities, Inc. containing allegations of the neglect of a resident at one of its facilities. The facility involved is Brookdale University Park in Birmingham, Alabama. The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama, alleges that the resident developed a severe Stage 4 pressure sore after being admitted to the facility for rehab following a hip fracture. "The family had no idea that the resident had a bedsore until they got him home. When turned him over to change him, they discovered a softball size hole in his backside", says J.P. Sawyer who represents the family. The resident was immediately transferred to a local hospital where he remains in the critical care unit as a result of the pressure sore. "Some of the worst injuries people suffer in long-term care settings involve bedsores and the complications, such as infections, that arise from them," Sawyer said. What Is a Bedsore? A bedsore is damage to the skin caused by prolonged friction or pressure against the skin, such as from lying down on a bed without being moved when you are unable to move. The technical term for these injuries is decubitus ulcers, though they’re also commonly known as pressure sores and pressure ulcers. How Bedsores Happen Though they’re often called bedsores, these injuries aren’t limited to bedridden people. They can happen from prolonged exposure to other objects or surfaces, such as wheelchairs. They most commonly form around bony areas of the body, including elbows, hips, ankles, buttocks, and shoulders. Bedsores are frequently seen in long-term care facilities when residents are stationary for long periods. Who Is Most Susceptible to Bedsores? Wheelchair users and people who are bedridden are at a high risk of developing bedsores. Someone is more likely to develop bedsores if they have fragile skin, are older, have conditions that limit blood flow in the body, lack adequate hygiene, lack proper nutrition, have difficulties controlling their bowels, or need assistance moving. This means that bedsores are a serious problem among nursing home residents. Residents often have one or more of the risk factors listed above. Without intervention and proper care from a nursing home’s staff, these injuries can be life-threatening. Steps to Avoid Bedsores The best way to combat bedsores is prevention. Preventing pressure ulcers means frequently moving and cleaning a patient to relieve pressure and friction on the skin from commonly used surfaces. Proper hydration and nutrition also help keep the skin healthy. Once a bedsore occurs, medical attention is often required. The injuries must be frequently cleaned and tended to. Proper care will prevent the bedsore from progressing to a more advanced stage. Bedsores as a Sign of Neglect Bedsores can indicate that a patient in a medical facility isn’t getting the care they need. Medical professionals and nursing home staff members are trained to identify and treat pressure ulcers before they present a significant risk to patients. If you’ve noticed that a loved one has developed bedsores, speak to the person or people in charge of providing their care. Have You Seen Bedsores on Your Loved One? When you have a loved one living in a nursing home, look for visible bedsores when you visit. They could signal even greater problems of negligent treatment in the facility. You should also look for additional signs of neglect, such as malnutrition, dehydration, and poor hygiene. If you have any experience with bedsores, you know how serious these injuries are. When your loved one begins showing signs of a pressure ulcer, it’s vital you make sure they get the care they require before the injury worsens. Legal Options for Bed Sore Injuries Suffered in a Nursing Home If you’re concerned about the health of a loved one in a nursing home, you have legal options available, including filing a compensation claim on their behalf. If you’re unsure whether you have a claim, you can contact a nursing home injury attorney to discuss the best path forward. Contact Sawyer Law Firm Today If you need a nursing home abuse lawyer in Alabama, contact attorney J.P. Sawyer. Sawyer Law Firm is known statewide as one of the leading nursing home injury advocates. We offer free consultations, so there’s no cost to reach out to us to discuss your case. In our experience, bedsores are one of the most common reasons people contact an attorney about the care their loved one is receiving. These injuries are serious, and you’re within your right to consider the next steps to get your loved one better care and payment to cover the costs of past and future medical treatment. Let us assess your case to help you explore your legal options. Contact J.P. Sawyer today for a free case evaluation.

November 18, 2021, is Worldwide Pressure Injury Prevention Day. Pressure injuries (bedsores) claim the lives of over 60,000 people each year and cost the United States healthcare system over $11 billion annually. Each year 2.5 million Americans get pressure injuries, and over the past 5 years, there has been a disturbing trend of more severe pressure injuries. Unfortunately, a high percentage of pressure injuries lead to death. Active measures to prevent pressure injuries reduce the high incidence of pressure injuries and the substantial pain associated with pressure injuries. These measures include the following: Frequent turning and repositioning; Incontinence care; Frequent assessment of the skin; Avoidance of friction and sheer on the skin; Range of motion exercises; and Use of special pressure-reducing mattresses and cushions. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has noted that no other preventable event occurs as frequently as pressure-related injuries. The important part of this statement is that many pressure injuries are "preventable". Caregivers must stay diligent in assessing patients and determining the appropriate interventions necessary to prevent pressure injuries. The failure to do so often leads to substantial pressure injuries. Contact Sawyer Law Firm Today Sawyer Law Firm has more than 25 years of experience protecting victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. Many of the cases we handle involve nursing home-acquired pressure injuries (bedsores). Contact the team at Sawyer Law Firm today for a free consultation about your loved one’s case. We will fight for your family to get you fair compensation for their injuries.

Nursing homes are intended to be safe, sanitary places for seniors, but they can also become breeding grounds for serious infections. Over the years, there have been several outbreaks of respiratory infections and noroviruses in nursing care facilities across the United States. Being aware of the risks of infection in nursing homes is critical so you can identify if your loved one is becoming ill due to improper hand hygiene practices or a lack of communication between healthcare staff members. A nursing home lawyer can help you get fair compensation and medical treatment on their behalf. What Are the Risks of Infections in Nursing Homes? In the United States, there are about 15,600 nursing homes, and over 1 million seniors rely on them for their care every day. Residents of nursing homes are more likely to contract infections because of their declining health and close contact with other residents. The Centers for Disease Control reports that 1-3 million severe infections occur in nursing homes and assisted living facilities each year. Germs pose a major threat to individuals with diseases or pre-existing conditions, which can further endanger their health. These other risks can also increase the chance of an infectious outbreak among nursing home residents. Poor Oral Hygiene Poor oral hygiene and problems breathing and swallowing among residents can increase the spread of respiratory infections, particularly bacterial and viral pathogens that cause pneumonia. Research indicates that nursing home residents’ oral hygiene can be improved, including comprehensive dental programs such as specially trained nursing staff in homes to care for the residents’ teeth. When proper oral hygiene is maintained among nursing home residents, the risk of getting pneumonia decreases by 6.6–11.7%. Lack of Proper Hand Hygiene Seniors who use urinary catheters or similar devices are at an increased risk for UTIs. In nursing homes, 3-7% of residents with a bladder device will get a UTI every day the device is in place, and 50% will get some type of infection within their first year. A lack of hand hygiene is associated with these UTIs and skin diseases like scabies and diarrheal diseases such as gastroenteritis. Nursing assistants who help residents in their daily tasks such as bathing, grooming, going to the toilet, and other activities can improve their hand hygiene practices to prevent these diseases. Other staff members such as physical therapists and occupational therapists who see residents regularly should also be educated about appropriate hand hygiene practices to mitigate the spread of infection between individuals. Pressure on Nursing Homes for Medical Care As the Baby Boomer population ages, the healthcare industry has seen an increase in the need for extended-care facilities. As hospitals try to reduce patient stay times and shift care to nursing homes to save on in-hospital expenses, the number of older patients seeking long-term care has increased. Many people staying in nursing homes for extended periods now have more severe diseases that require extensive medical treatment and attention. The pressure on nursing facilities to provide comprehensive medical care to all their residents increases the risk of a potential infectious outbreak among residents. Frequent Health Care Transitions Nursing home residents are often transferred to other units for more medical care. They may be moved from the emergency room into an inpatient unit after being treated and stabilized. Then, they may be discharged to a rehabilitation unit before returning to their room in the nursing home. The constant movement from one unit to another leaves residents vulnerable to infections since the nursing home healthcare workers may not always follow proper infection control and safety guidelines and communicate with other staff members. Patients may also be vulnerable to medical errors such as administering incorrect antibiotic dosages not based on a prescription written by a specialist. Over-Reliance on Antibiotics Many nursing homes use antibiotics to treat patients frequently rather than rely on clinical examinations to provide residents with appropriate medications and medical care. A constant need for antibiotics could be attributed to several factors in nursing homes, such as lacking onsite physicians to give proper treatment. The overuse of antibiotics can lead to drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, and developing resistance to other drugs, leaving residents vulnerable to infections. A Nursing Home Lawyer Can Help You Get Justice If you notice your loved one frequently becomes ill while living in a nursing home, you can help them take legal action and seek compensation for their medical bills or pain and suffering resulting from those infections. At Sawyer Law Firm, a Montgomery nursing home lawyer can determine whether you have a case and gather evidence to make a compensation claim on your behalf. Contact our law firm today for a free consultation to discuss your options for getting the justice your elderly loved one deserves.