Nursing homes provide a vital service in our communities. They ensure our loved ones receive skilled care around the clock, meet their nutritional needs and encourage them to socialize with their peers.
The staff at nursing homes know you are entrusting them with your beloved family member. Most will go above and beyond, giving your loved one attentive care. However, errors are made, and sometimes the result can be catastrophic.
While the types of errors can vary, most of them can be narrowed down to the following causes:
1. Understaffing
It’s common knowledge that our nation has a healthcare crisis, and New Jersey is no exception. This comes at the same time as the federal government increasing minimum staffing levels in nursing homes. Without enough staff, essential care is compromised. Call bells go unanswered, and there is an increased likelihood of pressure ulcers, resident falls or missed meals and medications.
2. Inadequate training
Even if the nursing home has enough staff, injuries can occur if they’re not adequately trained. A nursing assistant who hasn’t been taught proper techniques for resident lifting, transferring and repositioning can cause harm to the resident in the form of pressure ulcers, skin tears, muscle strains or even broken bones. A nurse who hasn’t been trained in medication administration can give the resident the wrong dosage or wrong med.
Inadequate training also extends to dietary staff who may give liquids to a resident who requires thickened liquids, resulting in a choking episode. A housekeeper who hasn’t learned to place “wet floor” signs can cause a resident to slip, fall and break a hip.
3. Poor communication
Effective communication between staff, physicians, residents and families is critical to ensuring residents receive proper care. Miscommunication can lead to incorrect treatments or failure to respond to a resident’s deteriorating health.
Many of these issues reflect systemic errors within the nursing home that need addressing. Providing excellent care to a vulnerable population should be the priority of everyone, from the nursing home administrator on down. If you believe your family member has been injured due to a nursing home staff member’s negligence, it’s crucial that you explore your options regarding a medical malpractice suit.