Nursing Home Neglect Info

The attorneys at the Becker Law Office are ready to answer your questions at no charge or obligation. If you have reason to believe that you or a loved has been injured or neglected in a nursing home or assisted living facility, contact us today for a free consultation.

As the population increases and the median age rises, there are more and more people who will have to avail themselves of the services of a nursing home. Whether it be from illness or injury, or because of age and infirmity, there are times when the family cannot care for the ill or injured person and the services of a nursing home are required. Currently, there are approximately 34,000,000 American over the age of 65. Approximately 40% will be admitted to a nursing home, and approximately 20% will have a residence longer than 5 years.

While nursing homes are licensed by the State and Congress has enacted the "Nursing Home Reform Act" of 1982 in an attempt to redefine the quality of care required to be provided by participating facilities, most nursing homes are only required by law to be inspected every 15 to 18 months. Frequent inspection, we believe, may prevent abuses from occurring.

A nursing home that admits a resident has certified that it is qualified to take care of that resident, regardless of the party's medical condition. Otherwise, it should not accept the resident, and the resident should be sent to another facility. Unfortunately, many nursing homes are understaffed, underfunded, and lack the desire or ability to take proper care of the residents they do admit. A nursing home makes a representation to each resident and the resident's family that they will meet the standards of care required by the "Nursing Home Reform Act" and as regulated by the State. These are minimum standards.

Acts of abuse and neglect occur far too often. Falls and pressure sores are the two major incidents that occur on nursing home premises. Such injuries can be deadly and attention to proper care would prevent both of these injuries. Sometimes there are assaults on the residents by callous and careless employees. Choking and medication errors also cause many injuries. Some nursing homes fail to give proper medical care or fail to have the resident sent to a medical facility when an accident or physical condition requires more extensive treatment.

No one wants to place their loved ones in a nursing home that does not give adequate care. Unfortunately, sometimes confining one to a nursing home results in serious personal injury.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of improper care and treatment in a nursing home, please contact the Becker Law Office at 1-888-4BECKER for a free consultation, or send us an E-mail from our “Contact Us” page. We can help, and we want to help.