Three Main Causes Of Nursing Home Abuse
No one wants to think that their loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse at the hands of the very people meant to protect them. Sadly, it is something that occurs far too often. After learning that a loved one has become a victim, family members are typically left wondering how such a thing could happen. Understanding the main causes of nursing home abuse can help you identify the liable party if it has already occurred. Additionally, knowing what causes nursing home abuse can help you identify when there is a potential for it to occur, so you can stop it before it does.
Malicious Staff Members
Unfortunately, malice is something that is not always easy to detect. A malicious staff member may simply want to cause your loved one harm. They may act friendly, caring, and supportive while you are around, only to turn around and act maliciously towards your family member once you are gone. Malice is not as easy to spot as other causes of nursing home abuse, so it is important to look for the general signs of nursing home abuse. When a staff member acts with malice and hurts a resident, it is not only a matter for the civil courts, but can also result in criminal charges.
Staffing Shortages
It is no secret that nursing homes are notoriously understaffed. Nursing homes must have enough staff members on hand at all times to provide the care and attention every single resident needs and deserves. When nursing homes are suffering from staff shortages, there are simply not enough people to tend to all the residents. Some elders may suffer from abuse as a result because the staff members are short-tempered and overworked. Or, others may become neglected because staff members simply do not have time to care for them.
Understaffing is never an excuse for nursing home abuse, but it is one of the main causes. If you notice a lack of staffing in your loved one’s nursing home, you should be on heightened alert for signs of abuse and neglect.
Improper Training
Nursing home facilities have a legal responsibility to provide their employees with proper training. They must provide health and safety awareness training, food hygiene, as well as the manual handling and moving of people. These are just a few of the basic components of nursing home staff training. When nursing homes staff members are not given the proper training, they cannot properly take care of the residents in their care.
When visiting your loved one, look closely at the behaviors and actions of the staff members present. Do they seem competent and capable? Are they confident in what they are doing? Are they providing residents with the proper care? If the answers to any of those questions are ‘no,’ it may be a sign that abuse and neglect are more likely to occur.
Our Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in Tampa Can Determine the Cause of Your Loved One’s Injuries
It is important to determine the cause of nursing home abuse so you know who to hold liable for paying full damages. At Kohn Law, our Tampa nursing home abuse attorneys will identify the party that caused your loved one harm and hold them fully accountable for paying the maximum compensation your family deserves. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html
