What Are the 3 Most Common Complaints About Nursing Homes?
Nursing homes provide care for elderly and incapacitated adults. These services are vital for a vulnerable section of our population. We trust nursing homes to provide for the physical and emotional well-being of our family members. For many families, nursing homes are necessary because they cannot continue to provide the level of care their loved ones need at home.
However, like all other types of organizations, there are good and bad nursing homes. Some facilities fail in their duty to provide adequate care for the residents. Providing substandard care can significantly impact the physical and mental health of the patients.
Residents and families have many complaints about nursing homes in Texas. Complaints people raise about nursing homes in Texas include:
Lack of Social Interaction
Loneliness is a common problem among elderly individuals. Nursing homes should provide a level of social interaction that a person might not receive if they were at home. However, there is a high rate of isolation and loneliness in nursing homes. One study found 22% to 42% of nursing home residents suffered from severe loneliness.
Loneliness and isolation can increase the risk of stroke and dementia, as well as other health problems. For instance, being lonely can increase the rate of anxiety and depression.
Nursing homes should provide activities that encourage residents to interact with each other. Unfortunately, staff members may ignore patients who cannot participate in activities without assistance. They may leave them in their rooms instead of moving them to areas where they can be social with other residents.
Poor Quality Food
Nursing homes must prepare and serve three meals a day to hundreds of patients. It is a huge undertaking financially and logistically. Sadly, many nursing homes cut corners on food to save money. Complaints about nursing home food include:
- Failing to include many alternatives for patients with dietary restrictions or allergies
- Little to no variety in what is served
- Failing to meet the health requirements of residents
- Using too many processed foods or ingredients
- Failing to incorporate local foods and seasonal favorites
Studies have shown that food services and dining experiences in nursing homes directly impact the quality of life for residents. Poor quality of food can be linked to numerous problems, such as:
- Malnutrition
- Lack of appetite
- Dehydration
- Aversion to food
- Health complications, including severe weight loss
Staff members are responsible for ensuring patients have sufficient food and liquids. However, getting patients to eat is time-consuming and challenging when the food is not appealing. Therefore, many patients are overlooked until they develop severe complications because of their diet.
Lack of Care
Slow response times are another common complaint about nursing homes. Staff members can be unresponsive to patients’ needs, and patients may wait much longer than they should when they call for help.
For example, a patient who needs assistance going to the bathroom may soil themselves because they cannot get a staff member to respond to their request for help. Residents may remain in bed too much because they cannot get a staff member to help them transition to a chair.
Whether it is a lack of staff members, frustration, or inconvenience, nursing home staff members often fail to meet the needs of residents in a timely manner. The result can include:
- Negative impacts on mental health
- Bed sores
- Fall injuries
- Lack of exercise
- Soiled clothing and bedsheets
- Health complications from lack of activity
Understaffing is a common cause of slow response times in nursing homes, as is negligent hiring.
What Should You Do if You Suspect Your Family Member Is Being Mistreated or Abused in a Nursing Home?
You can file a complaint with Texas Health and Human Services if you suspect a nursing home resident is being neglected, abused, or exploited. If you believe your loved one is in immediate danger, you can call 911 to report the abuse and request emergency medical services.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim for Nursing Home Abuse in Texas
You may also want to contact a Friendswood nursing home abuse lawyer for assistance. An attorney will advise you of your loved one’s rights and legal options if they were injured or suffered harm because of neglect or abuse in a nursing home. An attorney can help your loved one file a claim for economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Rehabilitative therapy
- Mental anguish
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Loss of enjoyment of life and quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Transfer to a new nursing home, if applicable
The value of your loved one’s nursing home injury claim depends on the facts of the case. The type of abuse and the severity of the harm caused by the abuse are factors. Other factors include whether liability is clear and if the abuse or neglect was egregious.
If your loved one died because of nursing home abuse or negligence, you may recover compensation for damages by filing a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim does not bring back your loved one, but it can bring a measure of justice for the family and prevent further abuse from occurring to other residents.
How Long Do You Have To File a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in Friendswood, TX?
The Texas statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years. The time usually starts when the neglect or abuse is discovered or should have reasonably been discovered. A judge can dismiss the lawsuit for being filed after the deadline without considering your allegations.
If you have questions about nursing home abuse claims, contact a personal injury lawyer. The sooner you take action, the better your chance of holding the nursing home liable for the harm they caused your loved one.
Contact the Texas Personal Injury Lawyers of The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
Please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers to get a free initial consultation today our offices in Friendswood & Galveston, TX.
We serve throughout Galveston County in Texas and surrounding areas.
The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers – Galveston
2101 Mechanic St. Suite 253
Galveston, TX 77550
(409) 207-9299
The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers – Friendswood
312 S. Friendswood Dr.
Friendswood, TX 77546
(281) 992-8633
