Common Causes of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse is heartbreaking and far more common than we would like to believe. According to the World Health Organization, 2 out of 3 nursing home staff members reported they’d abused residents under their care at some point. If you have a family member living in an assisted care facility, knowing the common causes of nursing home abuse can help you protect your loved ones and their rights.

Listed below are circumstances most likely to increase the risk of nursing home abuse or neglect. However, abuse or neglect can still occur if none of these problems exist. If your loved one is a resident at an assisted living facility, it is vital to know about signs of abuse. To learn more about potential signs of nursing home abuse, visit our "warning signs" page..

Understaffing & Overworking

When understaffing occurs at a nursing home, there is a higher risk that abuse or neglect will take place. This risk comes from staff members being forced to do the jobs of several people while working long hours and receiving low pay. The consequences of an overworked and underpaid staff include feelings of frustration, mental anguish, and burnout that could potentially be taken out on vulnerable residents through physical or emotional abuse. 

Nursing home abuse through neglect also becomes increasingly likely when the resident-to-staff member ratio is too high because there are not enough employees to take care of all the residents and their needs adequately.

This cause of nursing home abuse could lead your loved one to suffer neglect, blatant ignoring, and emotional or physical abuse. If your loved one has suffered abuse or neglect at an understaffed nursing home, you may have the right to take legal action. Contact Steve Watrel, P.A., for a free consultation today.

Inadequate Training

When a nursing home hires inexperienced employees and does not provide adequate training, they are putting residents at risk. This risk comes from employees not knowing how to care for elderly individuals properly, and abuse by unintentional neglect or misconduct becomes more likely to occur. 

Abuse that could occur because of an inexperienced and under-trained staff includes: 

• Not checking for bed sores
• Medication errors
• Malnutrition
• Infection and disease
• Not providing proper aid to disabled or immobile residents
• Not knowing how to take life-saving measures like CPR
• & so much more.

Every nursing home should provide training and continuing education to ensure staff members know how to care for residents. Failure to provide adequate training and hiring inexperienced employees puts your loved one at risk of neglect, which can have serious consequences.

If your loved one has suffered neglect at a nursing home because of inexperienced and under-trained staff, they and you could be entitled to financial compensation. Contact Steve Watrel, P.A., today for a free consultation.

Mismanagement & Corporate Greed

Without proper leadership, standards are likely to slip within a nursing home. Nursing home management needs to set high levels of accountability, ensure staff members are doing their job correctly and empathetically, and maintain proper training, equipment, and supplies. When management does not have a high leadership level, cracks begin to form, and abuse and neglect are more likely to occur.

In addition to mismanagement, many nursing homes are owned and run by corporations that become profit-focused rather than care-focused. At a corporate level, abuse and neglect stem from the decisions of company leaders to lower care standards to maximize profits. This is often done by underpaying staff, not providing basic amenities, not prioritizing repairs and equipment updates, and needing to provide more training.

You may be entitled to financial compensation if your loved one has suffered abuse at a nursing home because of mismanagement or corporate greed. Contact Steve Watrel, P.A., today for a free consultation.

Resident Risk Factors

Nursing home abuse can happen to any elderly adult living in a nursing home, including your loved one. However, some groups may be more likely to experience abuse from the common causes of nursing home abuse. Groups that may be at a higher risk for experiencing abuse include those with cognitive impairments, mental illnesses, physical disabilities, or any condition that requires extra care or attention.

Get Justice for Your Loved One

Nursing homes have a duty to protect and care for their residents. If the facility fails to do this, it must be held accountable. If your loved one has experienced any nursing home abuse, they may be entitled to financial compensation for medical bills, mental health treatment, physical therapy, moving costs, and justice for pain and suffering. 

Steve Watrel is Jacksonville’s premiere nursing home abuse attorney. For over 30 years, he has been fighting for justice for sufferers of nursing home abuse and providing victims and family members compassionate care. You may be entitled to financial compensation if you or a loved one has suffered from nursing home abuse. Contact Steve Watrel, P.A., today for a free consultation.