Some North Carolina residents may be concerned about the quality of care that their loved ones are receiving in nursing homes. The unfortunate truth is that not all nursing homes are providing the level of care that should be expected. The Inspector General notes that about a third of residents in nursing homes have experienced harm. That harm was preventable in more than half of the cases.
A Senate Committee on Finance hearing that took place on March 6 looked at several cases where nursing home neglect and abuse took place. Both sides of the aisle were outraged over the mistreatment that took place. One case involved a woman in Arizona who gave birth after being raped despite the fact that she had been in a coma for 14 years. One chairman on the committee mentioned that the cases that were considered were not isolated. Rather, hardly a week would go by without nursing home neglect and abuse cases making national news.
There are several factors that contribute to unsafe environments in nursing homes. Residents of these care facilities are vulnerable to life-threatening consequences of neglect and abuse. Many residents are immobile and are completely dependent on others. This vulnerability is being exploited in several ways by staff members.
Nursing homes that have high staff turnover usually have the lowest quality of care. They are not well-funded and simply cannot afford to pay people more. This is especially true for nursing homes in rural areas.
If a person is concerned that their loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, seeking legal advice may be a good option. Our attorneys at Daniel, Holoman & Associates LLP have vast experience in nursing home abuse and neglect cases, and may be able to help. Contact us now to take the first step in getting the help you need.