There are many causes of nursing home malpractice, but one of the common causes is believed to be chronic understaffing at most nursing home and other long-term care facilities. According to a recent federal study, approximately 90 percent of U.S. nursing homes have insufficient staffing levels to provide the necessary care to their residents. Although a few states have passed laws to establish minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, most states have not passed any such laws, and this problem is expected to increase in the future as our increasingly aged population makes its way into these facilities.
If you have an elderly parent or relative in a nursing home or other long-term care facility, beware. Nursing home residents are subject to serious injuries from poor medical care, neglect, and other types of nursing home malpractice.
The statute of limitations on a nursing home is similar to the statute for a medical claim against a hospital or doctor … 1 year, so make sure that you act promptly.
Nursing home malpractice can lead to a wide variety of serious injuries, illnesses and conditions, including:
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Urinary tract infections
- Pneumonia
- Incontinence
- Anemia
- Loss of muscle mass
- Bed sores
- Slip and fall injuries
- Sexual abuse
- Injuries resulting from the improper use of physical restraints
If you believe that your loved one has been injured at a nursing home due to neglect or understaffing, contact Mishkind Kulwicki Law and let us help you.