Nursing home understaffing is a serious issue. In one report, staff shortages were reported by a full 94% of nursing homes. The same was true for 81% of assisted living centers.
The study asked if they had faced staffing shortages in the last month. So, while these may not have been long-term shortages, they are at least consistent. In some cases, there are also long-term issues, where the facility may not have the appropriate number of staff members for months or even years.
The danger this creates
This can lead to serious injuries for elderly residents who are being neglected, even if the staff is doing all they can to provide appropriate care.
For example, say that multiple residents need help at the same time, and they pull the alarms in their rooms. If there simply are not enough staff members on the clock to respond to every room, the care for at least one of those residents could be significantly delayed. If they have suffered injuries in a fall or are having a medical emergency, that delay could be seriously detrimental to their health.
This does not mean that the staff members who are working are being willfully neglectful. There is just too much for them to do, so they may not be able to provide the appropriate level of care. In a situation like that, liability may fall on the owner and operator of the nursing home for failing to hire enough staff members to keep the residents safe and healthy.
Seeking financial compensation
Has an elderly loved one been injured in a nursing home or assisted living center? If you believe this happened due to negligence on any level, you may be able to seek financial compensation for medical bills and related costs.
