Choosing the right nursing home for a loved one can be an emotional and difficult process. With all of the resources available online, it’s easily overwhelming to sift through even a sliver of what’s available and gain any sort of tangible insight. Based on our experience, we’ve outlined some of the more common complaints from those in nursing homes below and why they matter.
Physical Abuse
A 2019 HHS Inspector General report revealed that Medicare received more than 34,000 claims related to several kinds of maltreatment, including abuse. Because of the nature of Medicare coverage, these beneficiaries are often lower-income and subject to more abuse and carelessness as a result.
Poor Food Quality
Many reports show that there’s a wide range of quality when it comes to the type of food served in a nursing home. With many residents having special dietary needs and nutrition being the basis for a good quality of life, it’s shocking that there aren’t more standards when it comes to this pillar of treatment.
Errors in Administering Medication
A 2016 American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) report showed that current reporting mechanisms may not be showing the whole picture when it comes to medication errors. While the errors, fortunately, haven’t affected patients on a grand scale, they did find that 16%-27% of residents surveyed had some kind of medication error with some related to medication transfers.
Lack of Proper Staff & Care
s the general employment base shifts and nursing home care becomes a less desired profession, there are simply fewer staff and workers to hire. This can mean longer hours and fewer benefits for existing staff resulting in a lower quality of care across the board.
Cleanliness
With lower staffing comes lower standards for cleanliness and sanitation. It goes without saying how vital this is to the appropriate care of a loved one within a nursing home or residential facility. There’s no excuse for a nursing home to be anything less than 100% sanitary.
If you think you or a loved one have been exposed to these conditions within a nursing home, there may be an opportunity to pursue compensation for damages related to these circumstances. Call the knowledgeable team at Rabb & Rabb, PLLC today at (520) 888-6740 to learn more about how we’ve defended Arizona clients in similar situations.
