When you send a loved one to a nursing home, you have a right to expect that they are treated with kindness, dignity and compassion while at the facility. After all, this is what you are paying for.
Unfortunately, too many nursing home residents are subjected to abuse. Thanks to factors such as poor or understaffing and other cost-cutting tactics, most nursing homes fail to live up to their duty to provide quality care for their residents. And one of the tragic consequences of this can be the preventable death of a loved one. If this happens, you may sue the nursing home for wrongful death.
Here are some of the common causes of wrongful deaths in nursing homes.
Dehydration
Dehydration happens when an individual does not have enough water in their body. Dehydration interferes with the proper functioning of the victim’s body. If an individual fails to replenish the lost water, they are likely to be dehydrated. Thanks to their weak nature, an elderly person who is dehydrated can experience serious health issues such as organ failures, seizures and eventual death.
Malnutrition
Next to dehydration is malnutrition. Malnutrition is a common problem in nursing homes, especially when caregivers fail to supervise residents during meal times. Left unaddressed, malnutrition can lead to complications such as a weakened immune system, functional and cognitive impairments, depression and death.
Trips, slips and falls
Trips, slips and falls are quite common in nursing homes. In fact, it is not uncommon for older and frail people to fall much more frequently than younger folks. These falls can lead to injuries and like broken bones, internal injuries and even brain injuries.
As people age and lose their ability to be independent, they require care and attention all day. If a loved one loses their life due to negligence on the part of the nursing home, you should consider holding the facility accountable.
