Elder care facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living and memory care communities, provide around-the-clock services for older adults who need support to perform standard daily activities. Unfortunately, some elder care facilities drop the ball when providing first-class care as a slip and fall lawyer knows all too well. In fact. far too many older adults suffer from some type of abuse while under the care of a licensed facility. Whether you are a close friend or a family member, you should understand the causes of elder abuse to protect a loved one against sustaining physical, emotional, and even financial trauma.
Improper Screening
Each state has established a list of professional credentials elder care workers must acquire to become eligible for employment at an elder care facility. Unfortunately, some elder care facilities cut corners when hiring staff members, which leads to unqualified workers providing inferior care for older adults. One of the most important screening techniques involves running an extensive background check to eliminate candidates who have some type of criminal background. This is especially important when a job candidate has a criminal background that includes a conviction for elderly abuse.
When vetting an elder care facility, make sure the establishment runs comprehensive background checks on every job candidate.
Understaffed
Elder care facilities often face acute labor shortages. This became a huge problem during the COVID-19 pandemic. An elder care facility that faces an acute labor shortage does not have enough caregivers to provide basic services for residents. The result of an understaffed elder care facility is caregivers tend to eliminate some job functions just to fit every responsibility into a busy work shift. Residents lose the support required for taking care of daily tasks such as grooming and even eating well-balanced meals. Ask the guide of your elder care facility tour about the caregiver-to-resident ratio.
Lack Of Training
The acute labor shortages experienced by elder care facilities across the United States also have diminished the quality of caregiver training as our friends at Herschensohn Law Firm, PLLC have seen in their own legal experience. With the need to fill many holes in the work schedules of caregivers, many elder care facilities streamline the training process to address the labor crunch. Poorly trained caregivers do not provide the level of care that many residents require. Memory care residents feel neglected the most, as poorly trained caregivers do not meet the needs of memory care residents who require specialized expertise.
Medication Errors
Medication errors have become a common problem in the healthcare industry. From prescribing the wrong medication to administering incorrect dosages, medication errors can cause considerable harm to an elderly resident at a long-term care facility. Older adults depend on certain medications to prevent the development of diseases and to maintain vibrant health. One effective way to prevent medication errors is for you to develop a deep understanding of your loved one’s medication needs.
Hire An Experienced Elder Abuse Lawyer
Hiring an experienced elder abuse attorney can help a loved one receive just compensation for enduring abuse. Your loved one has the right to seek economic, non-economic, and punitive damages for living with abuse at an elder care facility. The attorney hired to seek justice determines the cause of elder abuse before determining whether the elder care facility responsible for the care of a loved one committed one or more acts of negligence.