It is not easy to be in the position of having to place a loved one in a nursing home. When a person is no longer able to live independently, however, there are often few choices about how to respond. If you do end up placing your loved one in a nursing home, you most likely expect that the center will be able to provide a high level of care. When nursing homes fail to provide adequate care for a loved one, life-threatening illnesses and infections can result.
It is critical to be on the lookout for various signs of nursing home abuse. In these situations, an experienced nursing home abuse attorney will fight to protect your rights and make sure that your loved one obtains the compensation he or she deserves.
Are Sanitation Standards Being Violated in Your Loved One’s Nursing Home?
Proper sanitation is critical in nursing homes. Nursing home staff is obligated to ensure that sanitation standards are met because the residents often have weakened immune systems. The existence of bacteria and viruses can directly threaten the health of nursing home residents and cause them to suffer needlessly. For this reason, all nursing homes must meet federal sanitation standards, which include:
- Maintaining floors that free from trip hazards
- Proper sanitization of food
- Rotating residents to avoid bed sores
- Routinely assisting nursing home residents with hygiene and toilet use
- Training staff on how to properly sanitize the facility
- Training staff on how to safely dispose of biological waste
Has Your Loved One’s Nursing Home Fallen Below Acceptable Cleanliness Standards?
Nursing homes must maintain their facilities in a sanitary condition. Despite this requirement, nursing homes often fail to meet these standards. Some of the most common signs that a nursing home has fallen below cleanliness standards include:
- Bathrooms with mildew or mold
- Dirty countertops and tabletops
- Messy common areas
- Unclean food preparation areas
Is Your Loved One’s Nursing Home Inadequately Staffed?
Inadequately staffed nursing homes are often unsanitary because there are not enough people working to make sure that all areas of the facility are routinely cleaned. Being understaffed also means that there are fewer people to help your loved one with his or her own hygiene and toilet issues. Consequently, germs in the nursing home can easily spread and endanger the lives of the people who live there.
Nursing homes that are properly staffed are less likely to encounter hygiene problems because this means that there are more people to make sure that the facility is properly cleaned. So, while it may seem like not a big deal at first glance, inadequate staffing at nursing homes can result in serious health concerns for residents.
Speak with a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If you see signs of poor hygiene at your loved one’s nursing home that indicate abuse, you should promptly speak with a compassionate attorney. At Dworken & Bernstein, we can help you review your various options to pursue compensation. Contact our law office today to schedule a free case evaluation.
