NURSING HOME MALPRACTICE
In the United States today, there are over thirty-six million people above the age of 65. According to statistics, many will need some form of assisted living, whether it is a nursing home, assisted living facility or other elderly facilities. Due to the fact that long-term care for the elderly is typically extremely expensive (well over $5,000 per month in many jurisdictions), the vast majority of residents go through most, if not all, of their assets in a matter of months and then become eligible for federal Medicaid benefits. Indeed, the cost of over 90% of nursing home residents is paid by Medicaid. As such, almost all nursing home facilities receive Medicaid funds.
According to the best available estimates, between 1 and 2 million Americans age 65 or older have been abused in some way or another. Nursing home residents have patient rights and certain protections under the law. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C.A. 1396r(c)(1)(B)(i), the nursing home must list and give all new residents a copy of these rights. Resident rights include but are not limited to:
Respect: You have the right to be cared for in such a manner as to enhance your quality of life. 42 U.S.C.A. 1396r(b)(1)(A).
Services and Fees: You must be informed in writing about services and fees before you enter the nursing home. 42 U.S.C.A. 1396r(c)(1)(B).
Money: You have the right to manage your own money or to choose someone else you trust to do this for you. 42 U.S.C.A. 1396r(c)(6)(A), 42 U.S.C.A. 1396r(c)(6)(B).
Privacy: You have the right to privacy, and to keep and use your personal belongings and property as long as it doesn't interfere with the rights, health, or safety of others. 42 U.S.C.A. 1396r(c)(1)(A)(iii).
Medical Care: You have the right to be informed about your medical condition, medications, and to see your own doctor. You also have the right to refuse medications and treatments. 42 U.S.C.A. 1396r(c)(1)(A)(i).
Whether a caregiver fails to meet the needs of the senior (neglect) or actually physically or mentally abuses a resident, nursing home abuse is not uncommon in today's society, and we must do our best to prevent it. Recently, there has been increased recognition that elderly and dependent adults are subject to abuse, neglect, and abandonment. The abuse can be recurrent neglect or a single egregious event that produces injury, either physical or financial. There are several common types of injuries that are suffered as a result of recurrent neglect, including:
Falls and fractures
Physical or chemical restraints
Malnutrition or dehydration
Improper, wrong or over-medication
Bed sores
Lack of supervision (allowing residents to wander away from the facility)
Physical abuse or unexplained injury
Weight gain or loss
Septic shock
Gangrene
Aspiration pneumonia
Theft of money and personal property
Unexpected or wrongful death
Unsanitary conditions
Untrained or insufficient staff
Over-sedation
Abandonment
Substandard medical care
Poor personal hygiene
Defective equipment
Sexual assault
The federal statute, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act or "OBRA", and its interpretive guidelines, spells out how nursing homes are ultimately responsible for the health, medical care, and well-being of their residents. A federal bureau known as the Health Care Financing Administration oversees compliance with these regulations. HCFA enforces guidelines for the evaluation, care, and treatment of residents, aimed at maximizing the quality of each resident's daily life and minimizing abuse and neglect. If substantial compliance is shown, certification of the home is continued, and the home can continue to receive government funds such as Medicare/Medicaid. If not, the home may lose its ability to receive these benefits. Care is expected to improve as nursing homes take steps to prevent injuries and avoid litigation, which is increasing.
Before proceeding with litigation, a review of the victim's medical records is critical. All available family members, friends, and witnesses should be interviewed to determine if there is any additional information regarding the elder's treatment or documents that will assist in the evaluation. This should include inquiries regarding complaints and/or third-party investigations by governmental authorities. Because most victims in nursing home cases are long past the stage of earning wages and often have short life spans, analysis of these cases is different. Important factors that may impact the number of damages that may be recovered include the egregiousness of the nursing home's conduct, whether a pattern of neglect can be shown, and whether injuries from the nursing home's negligence can be distinguished from the resident's existing disease process.