Nursing Homes Shouldn't Equal Poor Care

    /24-7PressRelease/ - July 27, 2008 - Most likely, every one of us will have to deal with picking a nursing home at some point in our lives. It may be for one of our parents. It may be for a spouse or disabled child that we can no longer care for. It may be for us. It doesn't really matter who it's for, though, because the decision is a difficult one, at best.

Once you've made that very difficult decision, you're faced with having to pick the right nursing home. None of the choices are cheap. Some are just too expensive. And none of them are created equal. How do you know what to look for so you can make the best decision possible? On your initial visits, you should be looking at how clean the common areas are, how alert and cleanly the residents and patients appear, and what the attitude of the staff is like. Don't let your guard down when you or your family member moves in, though. In many cases, that's when things can really change.

Visitors and friends of nursing home residents and patients should always be watching for signs of potential negligence or mistreatment. The most important and obvious signs include:

• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Bed sores
• Pressure sores
• Infections
• Slip and fall accidents
• Medication errors
• Unexplained ailments
• Untreated illnesses
• Unwarranted physical restraint
• Resident/patient isolation
• Lack of adequately trained staff
• Lack of staff supervision

If any or all of these things are taking place, it could be an indication of nursing home negligence. Negligence on the part of the nursing home staff can lead to physical, emotional or mental harm to the residents and patients of the nursing home. Sadly, there have even been cases where a patient was so neglected that they died.

Whether you are visiting a family member in a nursing home, or you are the nursing home resident, don't let mistreatment continue. Contact an experienced nursing home negligence attorney immediately when you suspect any kind of negligence or lack of care and concern on the part of the staff. It may mean having to move you or your family member to a more reputable nursing home, but if it means improving the quality of care, it will be worth it.

In the meantime, a lawyer with nursing home malpractice claims experience can help determine what type of compensation is due as a result of the mistreatment endured. It is never okay for anyone living in a nursing home to be treated badly and left to suffer.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or died as a result of nursing home negligence in Hartford, Waterbury, New Haven or the surrounding area, please visit Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC today.

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