If your loved one needs care, whether because of age or incapacity, you may consider finding a nursing home that can attend to their needs. It’s important to know, however, that personal injuries can occur in nursing homes and how to protect your vulnerable loved one.
Examples
Nursing home residents can be hurt if they slip, trip or fall because of inadequate maintenance or if they are not assisted by staff. They can also be harmed by medication errors, including an incorrect dosage.
If the staff does not regularly attend to your loved one, they can suffer from bedsores and a lack of adequate nutrition and hydration. Neglect can also cause any existing health conditions they have to get worse. Unsanitary conditions can spread infections throughout the facility as well.
Your loved ones can also be subjected to physical abuse by staff members and emotional abuse, including yelling, humiliation and other mistreatment.
Elements of a claim
It may be necessary to file a claim against the nursing home for personal injury and there are several elements that you must meet. You must show that the nursing home staff acted negligently or were abusive to your loved one and that they violated their duty of care, which includes meeting your loved one’s needs like food, medical care and a safe environment.
You must also prove that the nursing home breached its duty of care and as a result, it caused your loved one harm. It’s helpful to prepare evidence to support your claim, which may include medical records, witness statement, complaint reports and injury photos.
The nursing home may be required to compensate your loved one for their injuries.