Nursing Home Wrongful Death Lawyer

Medication errors fall under the large legal umbrella of medical malpractice. The medication error rate in nursing facilities must stay below 5%. If it gets higher than that, a nursing facility can receive a health citation on its federal inspection. Still, 5% leaves plenty of room for potentially deadly medication errors. Common types of medication mistakes include giving the wrong medication to a patient, giving the wrong dose to a patient, failing to follow medication instructions, etc.

As we age, we naturally become more fragile and less agile. Additionally, our vision may get worse. All of these factors increase the risk of tripping, falling, and suffering major injuries such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. It’s the job of nursing staff to constantly monitor their patients and help them move around safely. If nursing home abuse and neglect is occurring, it’s possible for elderly residents to fall and suffer fatal injuries.

Another common result of nursing home abuse and neglect that can easily lead to wrongful death are bedsores or pressure ulcers. Bed sores happen when nursing home staff members fail to help immobile residents change positions in their beds or chairs every few hours. Long term pressure on a specific part of the body can cut off blood supply to the skin, which can result in a large gaping wound.

There are 4 stages of bedsores, with stage 1 being very minor and stage 4 being severe and life-threatening. Stage 1 or 2 pressure ulcers aren’t always preventable, especially if the patient is bed bound, but stage 3 and 4 pressure ulcers are completely preventable and should never happen.

Nursing home facilities must take care of bedsores immediately, before they turn into large open wounds, because the risk of a fatal infection goes through the roof. If nursing home neglect and abuse is already occurring, it would be very easy for a patient with a stage 4 bedsore to contract a MRSA infection (or a similar infection) and die from it.

Not only can infected bed sores lead to nursing home wrongful death, but so can a variety of other infections. A 2013 study claims that respiratory infections and UTIs are the most common types of infections among nursing home residents. Because elderly people have far weaker immune systems than the rest of the population, even a minor UTI can turn into sepsis, which can lead to wrongful death. This is especially the case if neglect or abuse caused the infection (through poor hygiene for example). Also, if the nursing home failed to quickly diagnose and treat the infection, which led to sepsis and/or death, they could face a nursing home lawsuit.

Malnutrition and dehydration is unfortunately very common in U.S. nursing homes. In fact, a 2005 study states that up to 60% of elderly people in nursing homes are malnourished. This study also claims that residents in many nursing homes eat less than 1,000 calories every day. This is considered nursing home abuse and neglect.

Malnutrition and dehydration is incredibly dangerous for anyone, but it’s especially dangerous for the average nursing home resident. In order to have a healthy body and a healthy immune system, you need to have the proper fuel. That means a minimum of 2,000 calories per day with a balance of protein, fat, and carbs. Additionally, micronutrient dense foods – such as fruits and vegetables – are crucial for a healthy body. Without the proper fuel, elderly people in nursing homes can endure a slow, painful death.

Believe it or not, physical abuse does happen in nursing homes, and it certainly does lead to nursing home wrongful death. If you notice that your elderly loved one is experiencing frequent bruising, broken bones, and other unexplained injuries in their skilled nursing facility, call a San Antonio nursing home abuse lawyer immediately. We can investigate physical abuse and help you come up with a solution before the abuse potentially leads to the nursing home resident’s death.