Nursing home abuse can be a severe problem for Tennessee residents. Discovering that a loved one has suffered from nursing home abuse is often devastating. We trust that nursing homes will take care of our elderly or incapacitated loved ones. When nursing home residents cannot defend themselves, they become easy prey for abusers. While many Tennessee nursing home residents receive excellent care, many do not. Some nursing home management teams negligently hire unqualified or dangerous employees. Other nursing home staff members ignore the signs of abuse or do not provide adequate supervision of nursing home residents.
Bringing a personal injury lawsuit against a nursing home is often a complicated process. Discovering the types of abuse suffered by your loved one can be disturbing. Nonetheless, at Cummings Law, we believe that nursing homes that permit the mistreatment of residents should be held accountable. Our experienced personal injury attorneys are familiar with the Tennessee Healthcare Liability Act. The Act allows successful plaintiffs to recover monetary damages for the abuse that they suffered or that a loved one suffered at the nursing home.
How Common Is Nursing Home Abuse?
Elder abuse that takes place in a residential care facility or nursing home can be challenging to detect. For every case of nursing home abuse that is reported, approximately five more abuse situations go unreported. As many as 1 in 6 residents in a nursing home might be the victim of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect every year in the United States. As much as 75 percent of nursing home abuse is carried out by caregivers – the very people that nursing home residents should trust the most.
Over 1.3 million Americans reside in nursing homes across the country. A recent Senate report on the impact of this rampant abuse discovered that at least 3 percent of all nursing homes have problematic safety or neglect issues. According to the report, nearly 400 nursing home facilities had a “persistent record of poor care.” One nursing home failed to sanitize blood sugar measuring devices between patients. Another nursing home failed to resolve its waste backup problem and the staff continued to serve food as waste seeped into the kitchen floor.
Common Nursing Home Abuse Injuries in Tennessee
Nursing home abuse or neglect can happen in a variety of ways. Caregivers sometimes intentionally abuse residents. In other instances, nursing homes negligently fail to supervise residents adequately.
Bedsores Caused By a Lack of Proper Care
One of the most common types of abuse injuries is bedsores. Bedsores, also known as decubitus ulcers or pressure ulcers, are dangerous when left untreated. Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to bedsores. Many nursing home residents are immobile and cannot get up and move around. Bedsores develop when the skin is in contact with a bed or chair. Pressure against the skin can negatively affect circulation, causing painful sores, sepsis, and septic shock. Nursing home caretakers should move patients frequently enough to prevent bedsores.
Nursing Home Slip and Falls
Many nursing home residents need assistance in walking or moving around. Side effects of medication, malnutrition, Alzheimer’s, dementia, or a lack of mobility can all increase the likelihood of a slip and fall injury. In Tennessee, nursing home staff must identify risk factors for slip and fall injuries and take action to prevent a fall from taking place. Many falls are preventable. When a loved one suffers an injury in a fall, the nursing home may be liable for his or her injuries.
Sexual Abuse at Nursing Homes
Nursing home residents are more susceptible to sexual abuse than the general population. Residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s may not be able to tell their family members that they’ve suffered sexual abuse. Nursing home residents’ unexplained bleeding or cuts, or fear of another resident or a staff member may be signs of sexual abuse. Nursing homes that fail to use reasonable care to create a safe environment or negligently hire a predatory employee may be liable for physical and emotional injuries caused by sexual abuse.
Death Caused by the Negligence of Nursing Homes
The Senate’s recent nursing home abuse report mentioned one egregious case in which a nursing home’s negligence caused a resident’s death. A nursing home in Illinois failed to respond to the medical concerns of a resident. The resident called 911 himself, but he died as soon as he arrived at the hospital. In this instance, the nursing home’s negligence caused the resident’s death. Nursing home staff a duty to call 911 or seek appropriate medical action upon learning that a resident needs medical help. When a nursing home resident dies under suspicious circumstances or due to negligence, the nursing home facility could be liable for the resident’s death.
Malnutrition and Medical Malpractice in Tennessee Nursing Homes
One of the primary duties of nursing home staff is to provide medication to residents on time and in the correct dosage. When a nursing home provides the wrong medication or provides medication in the wrong dosage, injuries and even death can occur. Similarly, nursing homes must provide adequate nutrition to residents. Nursing home residents who fail to receive proper hydration and nutrition have an increased risk of infection, slip and fall accidents, and bedsores. Nursing home staff should log meals and ensure residents are not losing weight.
Contact Our Nashville Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Attorney
Individuals who suffer nursing home abuse may have a right to bring a personal injury lawsuit under Tennessee law. Additionally, surviving family members of nursing home residents who died as a result of nursing home abuse may be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit for damages.
At Cummings Law, we seek to hold abusive nursing homes accountable for their actions. Attorney Brian Cummings is a highly esteemed Nashville personal injury attorney. He has a track record of fighting aggressively on behalf of his clients to help them receive the compensation to which they are entitled. We understand that nursing home abuse can be devastating. Our law firm will handle the case from start to finish so that you and your loved ones can begin getting the important legal help that you need. Contact our office today to learn how we can help you and your family.
