We all
hope that as our loved ones get on in years, they will be
able to maintain active and healthy lives, where they can
independently, or with our assistance, perform activities
of daily life. Unfortunately, it is often the case that
health issues make it impossible for persons to care for
themselves, even with their family’s help. Under those
circumstances, it may be required that a person become a
resident in a nursing home. In addition, younger people
whose conditions are chronic, or who are undergoing long
convalescence (e.g., after a stroke, etc.), and can’t
care for themselves, may need to have care rendered at a
nursing home.
While
there are many very fine nursing homes, others fail to provide
proper and adequate care which comports with the standards
established by the State and the nursing home community.
Some
of the most common examples of Nursing Home Negligence are:
|
failure
to appropriately monitor or restrain residents resulting
in accidental injury (including falls causing broken
hips and wrists) |
|
medication
errors |
|
failure
in the care of bedridden residents resulting in decubitus
ulcers (bed sores), requiring surgery, or causing loss
of limbs and prolonged hospitalizations |
|
failure
to maintain tracheotomies or ventilator support |
|
failure
to prevent infection and its spread |
|
general
neglect resulting in dehydration and other conditions |
|
physician
and nursing malpractice including: failure to timely
diagnose and/or treat various conditions |
|
malnutrition
and dehydration |
|
administrative
failures in the hiring of unqualified personnel |
|
physical
assault upon residents by staff |
In New
Jersey, the State Ombudsman’s Office of the Division
of Health and Senior Services, is the entity which is assigned
to oversee nursing homes and any allegations of neglect
of nursing home residents. For more information, call (877)582-6995,
or write to the Office of the New Jersey State Ombudsman,
P.O. Box 852, Trenton, NJ, 08625 or you may click here to
log on to their website: http://www.state.nj.us/health/senior/sa_ombd.shtml.
On a
national level, Ombudsman information may be found at: http://www.ltcombudsman.org/default.cfm.
Blume Goldfaden attorneys and medical staff have the experience
and expertise to determine if the care rendered at a nursing
home was substandard, and if such negligence resulted in
an injury for which damages may be recovered. Call us for
an evaluation at no cost to you.