Nursing Home Falls and Fractures Lawyer Houston, TX

A nursing home falls and fractures lawyer Houston, TX families rely on from John K. Zaid & Associates knows that many nursing homes are faced with the issue of understaffing. This can result in serious injuries such as falls and fractures, or even death for nursing home residents. One of the main reasons for understaffed nursing homes is the pressure to cut operating costs. However, this means that residents suffer the consequences. An understaffed nursing home can mean that one nurse is responsible for dozens of nursing home residents.

A large number of nursing home injuries and mistreatment cases are as the result of understaffing. Frustration on the part of overworked medical professionals can cause them to lash out at residents, causing physical and emotional injuries. Not having enough people to take care of residents’ basic needs often means lack of personal hygiene  care for patients and even malnutrition, among other neglect.

An understaffed nursing home means that nursing home residents are at risk for the following:

• Medication errors
• Neglect
• Physical injuries
• Psychological issues
• Worsening medical issues
• Falls and inability to get back up
• Death

Understaffing means that the one of the very reasons why families choose to place their elderly loved one in a nursing home – they can no longer care for themselves – often ends up being the same issue in the nursing home, with failure to care for their family member.

We have all read horrific stories of elderly residents found in nursing homes, with residents forced to lay in soiled clothes and diapers, the development of severe bedsores because no nursing home staff member made sure the resident was moved on a regular basis, and more.

When an understaffed nursing home results in the injury, sickness, or death of a resident, the facility needs to be held accountable. The resident and their family are entitled under the law for financial justice for the terrible injuries the resident has suffered. If this sounds like a situation you are currently going through with your senior relative in a nursing home, then we urge you to call a nursing home abuse lawyer Houston, TX families trust for quality legal guidance today. 

How to Stop Understaffing in Nursing Homes

One of the reasons why nursing home facilities have been able to get away with understaffing is that until recently, there has been a lack of regulations in many states. However, as more and more cases come to light, more state regulations and federal agencies are playing a stronger oversight role in how nursing homes are run. States that have strong regulation enforcement tend to have fewer issues with understaffed nursing homes and serious abuse and neglect violations compared to states that don’t have strong oversight. Local governments are also taking a stronger stance against nursing home violations.

In some states, laws have been passed that mandate just how many staff members there needs to be per resident. Unfortunately, most penalties for nursing home neglect and abuse involve fines and penalties. But many nursing home advocates say this just isn’t enough to deter those who commit acts of abuse or neglect.

If your elderly loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, call our office today to meet with a Texas nursing home falls and fractures lawyer in Houston at John K. Zaid & Associates.