While nursing homes are supposed to be a safe place for our loved ones, sometimes that is not the case. Two of the most serious problems almost all nursing homes face are understaffing and inexperienced nurses. These problems can result in serious symptoms seen in the home’s day-to-day management. For example, overworked and inexperienced employees often feel as though they never get a break, and they may become frustrated with not just the home’s management but also their patients.
This frustration is dangerous. Most nursing home residents are placed in homes because they cannot care for themselves and require that others help them with their day-to-day tasks, such as bathing, using the bathroom, personal grooming, taking medication, and visiting the doctor. When a nurse or other nursing home employee is too frustrated to deal with an employee, they may neglect the needs of that individual. In a vulnerable population like the elderly, this can result in serious or fatal consequences.
Maryland law allows for the families of nursing home abuse and nursing home negligence victims to file a civil lawsuit against the home as well as the offending employees. Of course, in order to bring such a lawsuit, a plaintiff will need to establish that they are related to the resident. They must also prove that the nursing home’s negligence or intentional misconduct resulted in the injuries sustained by their loved one. If they are successful, the family member may be entitled to monetary compensation for the suffering their loved one was forced to endure.
Family Brings Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Nurses and Nursing Home
Earlier this year, an Illinois family filed a lawsuit against the nurses who were caring for their loved one at the facility where she passed away. According to one local news source, the woman was admitted into the nursing home in June 2015, and by November 2015 the elderly woman had sustained two serious falls, resulting in an open head wound and a broken hip.
Not long after sustaining these injuries, the woman died. The woman’s loved ones claim that the nursing home’s negligence in allowing the woman to be unsupervised and fall not once but twice is what led to their loved one’s death. The lawsuit named several defendants, including the nursing facility, the nurse charged with the woman’s care, and the woman’s physical therapist.
Have You Lost a Loved One in a Maryland Nursing Home?
If you have recently lost a loved one who was residing in a Maryland nursing home, and you believe that the home was not adequately caring for your loved one’s needs, you may be entitled to monetary compensation through a Maryland wrongful death lawsuit. The skilled attorneys at the Maryland personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience bringing cases against abusive and negligent nurses and their employers. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation with an experienced attorney who will be happy to discuss your case.
More Blog Posts:
What You Can Do to Help Detect Nursing Home Abuse, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published January 22, 2016.
Psychological Abuse in Nursing Homes, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published February 5, 2016.