When are Nursing Home Administrators Liable for Abuse and Neglect?
After a nursing home resident has suffered harm due to abuse or neglect, there are many potentially liable parties. Doctors, nurses, nursing home staff members, and nursing home administrators are the most common of these. Many people who have loved ones in nursing home facilities, though, do not understand what administrators do. Therefore, they do not know when these professionals are liable for abuse and neglect. Below, our Tampa nursing home abuse attorney explains when these individuals may be to blame for injury.
Negligent Hiring and Training Practices
Nursing home administrators are responsible for hiring staff members to work in the facility, and training them to properly perform their employment duties. Ensuring that only qualified staff members are hired, and that they are properly trained in the facility’s protocols is one of the most important steps in preventing nursing home neglect and abuse. The quality of the staff members has a direct impact on the ability of the nursing home to operate, and the overall safety and well-being of residents.
When nursing home administrators engage in negligent hiring and training practices, they can be held liable for abuse and neglect. For example, they may fail to conduct background checks on potential candidates.
Failing to Develop Proper Protocols for the Facility
Nursing home administrators are also tasked with the responsibility of creating, implementing, and enforcing protocols for staff members to follow. For example, administrators should identify the most common causes of abuse and then implement protocols to prevent it. When protocols are implemented but they are not enforced properly, staff members are unlikely to take them seriously. When nursing home administrators fail to create proper protocols, or enforce them, they can be held liable for nursing home abuse.
Failing to Oversee Care
Staff members should be supervised appropriately to ensure they are providing proper care, and this is another responsibility of nursing home administrators. When they fail to do this, they cannot determine if residents are lacking care and therefore, cannot take action to correct the problem. For these failures, nursing home staff members can be held liable.
Mishandling Complaints
When residents, their family members, or staff members have complaints, the first step is to report it to the nursing home administrator. Nursing home administrators are then responsible for investigating the complaint and taking measures to correct the problem. When they fail to do this, they can be held liable. Administrators often mishandle complaints to try and shield themselves, and the facility, from liability.
Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Tampa Can Hold Administrators Liable
If you believe that your loved one has suffered from nursing home abuse or neglect, our experienced attorney can help. At Kohn Law, our Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer can investigate your case, determine if the administrator is liable, and hold them accountable for paying the maximum damages your family is entitled to. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help with your case.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html
