| Nursing
Home Neglect
There is a growing crisis in the care of our increasingly
elderly population. The realities of modern life are such that
people rely more and more on nursing homes and assisted living
facilities for the care of elderly parents or grandparents.
Since most long-term care facilities are expensive (costing
anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 per month, or more), most
residents will rather quickly use up any assets, becoming
eligible for Medicaid benefits. The vast majority of nursing
home residents rely on Medicare or Medicaid.
Any facility receiving Medicare or Medicaid funds must
comply with government regulations, which provide for minimum
standards for the care of residents. Many of these regulations
are set out by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA)
and are administered by the states. One of the purposes of
these regulations is to minimize abuse and neglect of nursing
home residents. Despite these requirements, substandard care
of residents is an increasing problem.
Many of the facilities providing long-term care for the
elderly are owned by "for profit" corporations. When
the government cut back on Medicare or Medicaid payments, this
cutback affected the cash flows of these corporations. In an
effort to maximize profits, many institutions have reduced
staff levels, hired less qualified (and cheaper) workers and
increased the workload for those who care for elderly
residents.
As a result, too often these residents do not receive the
level of care they require. Those who need assistance with
activities of daily living (ADL), such as feeding, bathing,
toileting, etc., are not receiving adequate care, resulting in
decubitus ulcers, malnutrition or even death. Lack of
supervision results in falls and injuries. Often, injuries go
unrecognized and untreated.
Neglect and abuse of helpless elderly people is a serious
and growing problem. To see if the resident has a possible
personal injury claim or if there is a claim for wrongful
death, you should feel free to contact an attorney who will
explain the factors to be considered in deciding whether to
make a claim.
For more information, please see our Nursing
Home Neglect & Abuse Frequently Asked Questions
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