Many of us must make the decision to place our elderly loved one in a nursing home. Oftentimes, it is the only way to provide them with the daily support and medical care they need to lead a comfortable and healthy life. However, sometimes the caregivers we trust to care for our loved ones mistreat them, resulting in an untimely death.
If your elderly loved one died while in the care of a nursing home and you suspect the cause was nursing home abuse or negligence, you could be eligible for compensation to cover funeral expenses and emotional distress. Hire a nursing home abuse attorney to ensure you are able to hold the responsible party liable for their actions.
How Wrongful Death in a Nursing Home Occurs
Negligence and abuse can both result in the wrongful death of a nursing home resident. In many cases, nursing homes are understaffed, which can cause personnel to feel overwhelmed, tired, discontent, and can ultimately result in serious mistakes and physical abuse.
Here are some of the most common mistakes that can lead to the death of an elderly nursing home resident:
- Administering the incorrect dosage of medication
- Permitting a resident who is has a cognitive disability to wander beyond the premises
- Neglecting to properly treat a medical condition
- Neglecting to provide residents with enough hydration and nutrition
- Not providing residents with enough protection from violent visitors
Most Nursing Home Deaths Are Preventable
A common myth regarding nursing home deaths is that most of them are not preventable. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many of them actually are. The most common cause of nursing home deaths is fall accidents, which account for 20% of these deaths. In addition to falls being a common cause of elderly residents in nursing homes, it also causes many more injuries. Between 50% and 75% of nursing home residents sustain injuries in fall-related accidents every year. Fall-related deaths and injuries are preventable and no one’s elderly loved one should die from an incident like this if he or she is being properly cared for.
Speak to a Compassionate Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If you believe your elderly loved one’s death was caused by nursing home abuse or neglect, you need to contact the Law Offices of Charles R. Gueli for the experienced legal representation you deserve to achieve justice on behalf of your loved one.
Call our legal team today at (516) 628-6402 to request a free case review and discuss the details of your case.