IMPROPER CARE & MEDICATION
Inadequate nursing home supervision and staffing can lead to serious problems for patients who can no longer take care of their own needs and may result in damages deserving of an improper care and medication claim. While one of the best ways to protect your elderly parent’s interests in an institutional setting is to visit frequently and pay close attention to the quality of interaction between residents and staff, that level of direct contact isn’t always an option.
If you have reason to believe that a nursing home resident in your family is not receiving the care necessary to maintain basic health and dignity, contact a greater Boston nursing home liability attorney at Kenney & Conley today for a free consultation at (781) 848-9891. Our attorneys have the knowledge and experience necessary to protect the rights of your loved ones in an improper care and medication case.
Types of Improper Care & Medication Cases
Most instances of patient neglect at nursing homes reflect one of several problems with the institution’s administration and hiring policies. These shortcomings are usually the result of deeper structural problems such as budget or cost control deficiencies. No matter the reason, if a nursing home resident has suffered from improper care or medication, compensation is deserved.
Improper care and medication of nursing home residents can take many forms, including but not limited to these common examples:
- High patient-to-staff ratios
- Frequent staff turnover
- Language barriers between attendants and residents
- Insufficient training of staff
- Inadequate understanding of residents’ rights
- Staff morale problems due to long hours, low pay, and insufficient supervision
Where these staff and administrative conditions prevail – and especially in cases where the residents are incapable of expressing their own needs clearly, due to Alzheimer’s, dementia or another factor – the result is often that residents suffer injuries due to falls, inadequate medication, insufficient food or water, or other improprieties arising from neglect. Additionally, prescription mistakes and inconsistency in the times of medication and meals can worsen pre-existing conditions. This type of neglectful behavior can defeat the purpose of a therapeutic course or upset an existing strategy for managing a condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety, or even bedsores.
