Nursing Home Lawyer Manhattan, NY
According to national statistics, almost 2,000 nursing home residents die each year from falls. Although some of these falls may be unavoidable, many of these incidents are a result of negligence and never should have occurred.
At, Oddo & Babat, our nursing home lawyers have been representing families of victims who were injured in nursing home for many years. If your loved one was injured, contact our office to discuss how we may hold the facility responsible for the damages your loved one has suffered.
Our legal team has handled many nursing home case falls and have found the following reasons as some of the most common as to why these preventable falls occur.
Failure to assess a patient’s risk for falls: It is up to nursing home staff to conduct periodic assessments of a patient to determine if there are any issues that need special attention. This includes whether the patient has a high risk of falling. If a patient is deemed high risk, then it is up to the staff to make sure the patient is watched at all times, as well as assist the patient when they are getting out of bed, going to the bathroom, etc.
Staff is poorly trained: When the staff at a nursing home is not properly trained and do not have the skills and experience necessary to care and monitor nursing home patients who are at risk of falling, these incidents will happen and patients will suffer injuries. Not having staff who know how to properly transfer a victim in and out of a wheelchair or bed, or knowing which patients may be at high risk of falling, is clearly an act of negligence on the part of the facility.
Facility suffers from understaffing: Just as dangerous is a facility that is understaffed. Unfortunately, the turnover of employees at nursing homes is high and many facilities struggle from staff shortages. This leaves employees with more responsibilities, caring for more patients than they can possibly handle. Residents might not receive the care they need when corners are cut and high-risk patients are left unattended.
Medication errors: If a nursing home patient is given the wrong medication, is given the wrong dose, or does not receive their medication at all, the result can be dangerous for the patient. A medication error can lay the groundwork for a slip and fall accident. For example, if staff fails to give a patient a scheduled dose of a certain medication, the patient’s blood pressure could suddenly drop, causing the patient to feel dizzy and fall down.
Contact a Nursing Home Lawyer in Manhattan NY
Abuse of the elderly is against the law and needs to be treated as such. If your loved one has been a victim of neglect or abuse – or if you suspect they are – contact , Oddo & Babat, to find out how we may be able to help. A nursing home lawyer Manhattan NY families trust may help your family report the abuse to the proper federal and state agencies, and pursue compensation for the damages your loved one has suffered. Call our office today for a free and confidential consultation.